Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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69. To ask the Minister for Finance his plans to review the first-time buyers grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29373/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the Help to Buy Incentive introduced in Budget 2017.

During the debates in the Oireachtas on the Finance Bill 2016, Minister Noonan agreed to commission an independent impact assessment on the effects of the Help to Buy tax incentive on the supply of new homes, house prices and the residential property market generally.

Following a competitive tender process, Indecon Economic Consultants were commissioned to undertake this assessment of the Help to Buy incentive. Work has commenced and the deadline for the submission of the consultant’s report is the end of August 2017. 

Once received, the contents and findings of the report will be considered by officials and presented to me. I will decide on appropriate action(s), if any, to take in relation to its findings, in the context of my deliberations for Budget 2018.