Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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247. To ask the Minister for Finance the expiry date for the help-to-buy scheme; and his plans to extend it. [28141/20]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Help To Buy (HTB) incentive, announced in Budget 2017 is designed to assist first-time buyers with the deposit required to purchase or self-build a new house or apartment to live in as their home. The incentive gives a refund on Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in the State over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation.

HTB is due to terminate on 31 December 2021, in line with the two year extension that I provided for in Finance Act 2019. The additional temporary measures applying the incentive set out in the Financial Provisions (Covid-19) (No. 2) Act 2020 are due to end on 31 December 2020.

As the Deputy will appreciate, with one week to go, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on measures that may or may not be contained in the annual Budget.