Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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238. To ask the Minister for Finance the funding or tax reliefs available to a person to deal with the continuous blockage and overflow of sewerage pipes in a private garden. [12548/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Some assistance for the relevant householders may be provided by the Home Renovation Incentive, which was introduced in Budget 2014. The scheme came into operation on 25 October 2013 and is scheduled to run until 31 December 2016. The incentive provides income 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. 

Qualifying works are works which are subject to the 13.5% VAT rate. These works must cost a minimum of €4,405 (exclusive of VAT) which will attract an income tax credit of €595. Different types of qualifying works can be amalgamated in order to reach the minimum threshold. Where the cost of the work exceeds €30,000 (exclusive of VAT), a maximum income tax credit of €4,050 will apply. The credit is payable over the two years following the year in which the work is carried out.

Funding, other than via tax reliefs, for such works would not be a matter for my Department.