Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Finance when he will sign the commencement order for section 3 of the Finance Act 2011 to commence the relief scheme for retrofitting insulation. [17320/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to Section 13 of Finance Act 2011, which provided for income tax relief at the standard rate for expenditure incurred by individuals on a range of works carried out to improve the energy efficiency of residential premises situated in the State. The underpinning legislation for the scheme was subject to Commencement Order. However, that legislation, on review, was found to have flaws and would have required amendment before it could be implemented.

As part of the announcement in the recent Jobs Initiative, the Government undertook to provide further funding for the grants available under the Better Energy Homes scheme operated by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Because of these circumstances, I decided to review the requirement for a co-existing tax incentive for similar works and following this review, I have decided not to proceed with the introduction of the tax relief scheme.