Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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63. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans for the home renovation incentive grant; and if he plans to expand the grant. [27764/15]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) was introduced in Budget 2014 and will run until the end of December this year. The incentive provides tax relief for homeowners by way of a tax credit at 13.5% of qualifying expenditure incurred on repair, renovation or improvement work carried out on a principal private residence. This is not a grant. In Budget 2015 I extended the scheme to include rental properties, whose owners are subject to income tax.

Qualifying expenditure is expenditure subject to the 13.5% VAT rate.  The work must cost a minimum of €4,405 (exclusive of VAT) which would attract a credit of €595.  Where the cost of the work exceeds €30,000 (exclusive of VAT) a maximum credit of €4,050 will apply. The credit is payable over the two years following the year in which the work is carried out.

The aim of the incentive is to stimulate increased activity in the construction sector and boost employment. It is aimed at supporting fully tax compliant builders and moving activity out of the shadow economy into the legitimate economy as all expenditure and relief claims have to be registered electronically with the Revenue Commissioners.

In relation to the Deputy's query as to whether the HRI will be expanded, it is a longstanding practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment in advance of the Budget on any tax matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions. However, as with all tax reliefs, the HRI will be considered as part of the forthcoming Budget and Finance Bill and any announcements will be made on Budget Day.