Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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180. To ask the Minister for Finance if a couple who commenced building a house one year ago but have not drawn down their full mortgage on the build are eligible for the new first-time buyer's scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30709/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2017, I announced a "Help to Buy" initiative which will provide an income tax rebate to first time buyers to assist them in getting the deposit for their first home, as required under the Central Bank's macro-prudential mortgage rules. This scheme is a complement to the structural actions in the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness published on 19th July 2016, and applies to both self-build and new build homes. In the case of a self-build, applicants who drew down the first tranche of their mortgage on or after 19 July 2016 will be eligible.

There are a range of criteria that a first-time buyer must meet in order to be eligible for a rebate of income tax under this initiative. The full details of these criteria will be set out in the Finance Bill.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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181. To ask the Minister for Finance if one half of a couple owned a house previously and sold it, would the couple be eligible for the first-time buyer's scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30710/16]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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In Budget 2017, I announced a "Help to Buy" initiative which will provide an income tax rebate to first time buyers to assist them in getting the deposit for their first home. In line with the Central Bank's macro-prudential rules, a joint purchase where one person has bought previously is designated as a non-first-time buyer under the initiative. This applies whether the person continues to own the property or has sold it.

Further details will be provided in the Finance Bill.