Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 November 2013
45. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Finance the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 15 has been refused mortgage interest relief in respect of the purchase of their new house; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49914/13]
View answerThe position is, as I stated on many occasions in this House, in order to qualify for tax relief at source in respect of mortgage interest, a loan must have been drawn down and used in the purchase, repair or development of a principal private residence on or before 31 December 2012 and will be fully abolished from 2018. This decision was announced in Budget 2011 and introduced in Finance Act 2012. I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that as the loan in question was not used to purchase the new house until 28 January 2013, it does not meet the criteria set down in Section 244 and for that reason it does not qualify for the relief.
