Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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268. To ask the Minister for Finance if he will consider establishing a scheme of tax credits in budget 2023 for owner-occupiers of defective apartments and duplexes to offset remediation costs similar to the way buy-to-let owners can offset liabilities again profit and loss; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22783/22]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has established an Independent Working Group to examine the issue of defective housing. Officials from my Department participate in this Working Group.

The objectives of the group are to identify the scope of relevant significant defects in housing, to evaluate the scale of housing affected, to propose a means of prioritising defects, to evaluate the cost of remediation, to recommend appropriate mechanisms for resolving defects and, to consider financing options in line with the Programme for Government commitment to identify options for those impacted by defects to access low-cost, long-term finance. A final paper is due to be completed by Q2 this year.

Separately, my Department's Tax Expenditure Guidelines are clear that a tax-based intervention should only be considered where it would be more efficient than a direct expenditure measure.

In the circumstances, any intervention by me along the lines mentioned by the Deputy would seem to be premature at this point.