Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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112. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider extending the mortgage interest relief on houses purchased between 2004 and 2008 as announced in Budget 2012. [23125/13]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware the Programme for Government contained a very specific commitment to examine a proposal to increase mortgage interest relief to 30% for first time buyers who bought between 2004 and 2008. In Budget 2012, this commitment was fulfilled. It is not my intention to widen the parameters of the commitment contained in the Programme for Government.

As you will appreciate, I receive numerous requests for the introduction of new tax reliefs and the extension of existing ones, but I must be mindful of the public finances and the many demands on the Exchequer, given the significant budgetary constraints. Tax reliefs, no matter how worthwhile in themselves, reduce the tax base and make general reform of the tax system that much more difficult.