Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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106. To ask the Minister for Finance his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding mortgage interest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16549/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Section 244 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 provides for tax relief in respect of interest paid on qualifying home loans taken out on or after 1 January 2004 and on or before 31 December 2012, with relief being available until 31 December 2017.  Any mortgage account which is currently in receipt of mortgage interest relief (MIR) will continue to be entitled to the relief up to 31 December 2017.  The amount of relief payable is based on the amount of interest actually paid by the borrower, subject to the ceilings and rates applicable to the loan.

While it is not possible to definitively identify the person mentioned in the Deputy's Question, it would appear that he should be entitled to the relief until December 2017 assuming that he continues to pay the interest amount due on the mortgage.

The Deputy will also be aware that in the Programme for a Partnership Government there is a commitment to retain mortgage interest relief beyond the current end date on a tapered basis.  I note that the current end date is December 2017 and I will consider the future of mortgage interest relief in due course.