Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 193: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if a couple buying a house together are entitled to relief from stamp duty when one is a first time buyer and the other has purchased before; his views on such proposals as the first time buyer is being penalised in these circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17792/07]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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Reduced rates of stamp duty on second-hand residential property for first-time buyers were introduced in the Finance (No. 2) Act 2000 in order to assist first-time buyers entering the housing market. The Finance (No. 2) Bill 2007, that was recently published, will exempt first-time buyers from stamp duty on all houses. To qualify for relief, the purchaser or purchasers must declare that they have not purchased property previously and that they will occupy the property for at least five years. Where a property is purchased jointly, each purchaser must satisfy the conditions in order to qualify for first-time buyers exemption. This position has existed since the first-time buyers exemption was introduced.