Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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131. To ask the Minister for Finance the current annual cost of the help to buy scheme, based on the latest data available. [43737/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Help to Buy incentive is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. The incentive gives a refund on Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax paid in the State over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation.

I am advised by Revenue that the annual cost of the Help to Buy scheme is set out in the Cost of Tax Expenditures publication, which is available on the Revenue website at:

The annual cost of the Help to Buy scheme is €185.3 million based on the latest available data for the year 2023.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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132. To ask the Minister for Finance the additional cost to the State of increasing the help to buy scheme limit from €30,000 to €40,000, based on an average claim of €25,000 per year and €30,000 per year, and 8,000 approvals per year. [43738/24]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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133. To ask the Minister for Finance the additional cost to the State of increasing the help to buy scheme limit from €30,000 to €40,000, based on an average claim of €25,000 per year and €30,000 per year, and 9,000 approvals per year [43739/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together.

The annual cost of the Help to Buy scheme is set out in the Cost of Tax Expenditures publication, which is available on the Revenue website at:

For 2023, there were 7,000 claims for Help to Buy with a total cost of €185 million, resulting in an average cost of €26,400.

To address the scenarios outlined by the Deputy:

• If 8,000 properties are claimed for at an average claim of €25,000, the estimated cost would be €200 million, with an additional cost to the Exchequer of €15 million.
• If 9,000 properties are claimed for at an average claim of €25,000, the estimated cost would be €225 million, with an additional cost to the Exchequer of €40 million.
• If 8,000 properties are claimed for at an average claim of €30,000, the estimated cost would be €240 million, with an additional cost to the Exchequer of €55 million.
• If 9,000 properties are claimed for at an average claim of €30,000, the estimated cost would be €270 million, with an additional cost to the Exchequer of €85 million.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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134. To ask the Minister for Finance the additional cost to the State of increasing the help to buy scheme limit from €30,000 to €40,000 and increasing the price limit to €550,000, based on an average claim of €30,000, and 8,000 approvals per year. [43740/24]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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135. To ask the Minister for Finance the additional cost to the State of increasing the help to buy scheme limit from €30,000 to €40,000 and increasing the price limit to €550,000, based on an average claim of €30,000, and 9,000 approvals per year. [43741/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 134 and 135 together.

The annual cost of the Help to Buy scheme is set out in the Cost of Tax Expenditures publication, which is available on the Revenue website at:

For 2023, there were 7,000 claims for Help to Buy with a total cost of €185 million, resulting in an average cost of €26,400.

To address the scenarios outlined by the Deputy:

• If 8,000 properties are claimed for at an average claim of €30,000, the estimated cost would be €240 million, with an additional cost to the Exchequer of €55 million.
• If 9,000 properties are claimed for at an average claim of €30,000, the estimated cost would be €270 million, with an additional cost to the Exchequer of €85 million.

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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136. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of increasing the exemption limit of €14,000 to €16,000, €18,000 and €20,000 under the rent-a-room tax relief scheme, based on no increase in take-up compared to 2023 levels. [43743/24]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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137. To ask the Minister for Finance the cost of increasing the exemption limit of €14,000 to €16,000, €18,000 and €20,000 under the rent-a-room tax relief scheme, based on a 10% increase in take-up compared to 2023 levels. [43744/24]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 and 137 together.

I am advised by Revenue that it is not possible to estimate the costs for the changes to the rent a room scheme as suggested by the Deputy.

Taxpayers with rental income in excess of the current rent-a-room limit are taxed on their entire rental income in the normal way. It is not possible for Revenue to identify which taxpayers with rental income could qualify for this scheme, with the proposed changes, as it is not possible to determine if they would meet the eligibility criteria for rent-a-room, specifically if those declaring rental income are in receipt of this income from letting out a room in their own house.

I am also advised by Revenue that the numbers availing of the rent-a-room relief and the cost to the Exchequer can be obtained by consulting Revenue’s Cost of Tax Expenditures report, which can be found on the Revenue website at:

www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/tax-expenditures/cost/index.aspx.