Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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64. To ask the Minister for Finance to set down the number of persons or mortgage accounts in receipt of tax relief at source in each year from 2011 to 2015 in tabular form; the projected cost in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2475/16]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 159 of 16 July 2015 to set down the cost of increasing the rate of tax relief at source that applies in 2016 from 30% to 40% and 50% for those who took out a qualifying loan between 2004 and 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2476/16]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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66. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 160 of 16 July 2015 to set down the cost of increasing the ceiling in 2016 of €3,000 interest for tax relief at source for those who took out a qualifying loan between 2004 and 2008 to €4,000 and €5,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2477/16]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Finance to set down the cost of retaining tax relief at source for mortgage customers in 2018 and 2019. [2478/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 to 67, inclusive, together.

I am informed by Revenue that the number of mortgage accounts in receipt of tax relief at source in respect of mortgage interest in each year from 2010 to 2015, is as set out in the following table.

The cost of increasing the rate of tax relief at source that applies in 2016 to 40% and 50% for those that took out a qualifying loan between 2004 and 2008 is tentatively estimated at €41 m and €83 m per annum respectively.

The cost of increasing the interest ceiling of €3,000 in 2016 for tax relief at source, for those that took out a qualifying loan between 2004 and 2008, to €4,000 and €5,000 is tentatively estimated at €18 m and €32 m respectively.

The total cost of tax relief at source for mortgage interest was €232 million in 2015. Any estimates for 2016 and later years must be very tentative because they depend on the extent of mortgage redemption, interest arrears and interest rates among other factors. Assuming that the actual reduction from 2014 to 2015 continues at the same rate, the following table indicates a possible cost. Although mortgage interest relief is due to end in 2017, the table has been extended to 2018 and 2019 to provide estimates for the Deputy's question in this regard.