Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Finance if there are proposals for maintenance work on listed buildings that are over 400 years old to be tax free; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15539/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Maintenance work on listed buildings that are over 400 years old can qualify for tax relief in certain circumstances which are outlined below. Where such a building is used or occupied for the purposes of a trade or profession any sums expended on the repair of the building can be claimed as a deduction for tax purposes in computing the profits or gains of the particular trade or profession. Section 81 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 provides the statutory basis for such deductions. Where such a building is used as a rented residential property the cost of maintenance, repairs, insurance and management of the premises borne by the landlord may be deducted as an expense from the rental income received in respect of the building for tax purposes. Expenses under this heading must be of a non-capital nature. Section 97 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997 sets out the rules for computing rental income and the deductions which may be made in arriving at that income. In addition, interest on borrowed money employed in the purchase, improvement or repair of the premises can also be set off against the rental income from the premises.

Owners of listed buildings that are over 400 years old may be in a position to claim relief under Section 482 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997. That section provides relief from income tax/corporation tax to the owner/occupier of an approved building/ in the State for expenditure incurred on the repair, maintenance or restoration of the building/garden. An approved building is defined as a building within the State which is determined by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to be a building which is intrinsically of significant scientific, historical, architectural or aesthetic interest and by Revenue to be a building to which reasonable access is afforded to the public, or which is in use as a "tourist accommodation facility" (ie a guest house) for at least six months in any calendar year. On the issue of reasonable public access, Revenue must be satisfied that various minimum requirements are met. In the case of a guest house, it must be registered or listed by Fáilte Ireland and must be in use as a guest house for at least 6 months of the year, 4 months of which must be in the period 1 May-30 September. There are no plans to extend the scope of the reliefs outlined above.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Finance if there are proposals to amend the arrangements regarding stamp duty on credit cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15540/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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All stamp duties, including the stamp duties on financial cards, are reviewed in the context of the annual budget and Finance Bill.