Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will review a specific scheme whereby persons that have retired and are not paying income tax are not eligible to avail of the scheme (details supplied). [38160/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Home Renovation Incentive (HRI) provides a tax relief by way of an income tax credit on repair, renovation or improvements works on principal private residences or rental properties carried out by tax compliant contractors. HRI came into operation on 25 October 2013, with rental properties being brought within its scope from 15 October 2014.  The scheme is scheduled to run until 31 December 2018.

The incentive is already available to all taxpayers, including pensioners, but as is the nature of tax-based incentive schemes, the taxpayer in question needs to have a sufficient tax liability to obtain the benefit of the additional tax credit.  As the Deputy will be aware, those aged 65 and over are treated more favourably by the tax system with the availability of additional tax credits and increased exemption limits, which can act to reduce or nullify any tax liability.

The development of a similar measure that would benefit old-age pensioners who are outside the income tax net would involve direct expenditure; this would likely be outside the ambit of my Department's vote.