Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 164: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of first time buyers who claimed the stamp duty rebate brought about in the Finance (No.2) Bill in May 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4687/08]

Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that the number of first-time buyer transactions which were exempted from Stamp Duty under the provisions of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2007 was 2,987 in 2007. This figure includes the number of transactions which became entitled retrospectively to exemption on the passing of the Act and obtained a refund of the Stamp Duty paid. The figure also represents only transactions that would not have been exempt from Stamp Duty, but for the changes introduced in the Finance (No. 2) Act 2007. Houses below €317,500 are therefore not included because they were already exempt, as were, for the most part, newly built houses.