The mortgage tax relief available to first-time buyers is being increased from €3,175 single and €6,350 married to €4,000 and €8,000, respectively. In addition, the period for which the relief is available will be extended from five to seven years. This will benefit more than 45,000 first-time buyers. The combined effect of these changes in personal taxation will be that 37,400 taxpayers will be taken out of the tax net.