Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 May 2017
152. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Finance the number of mortgage holders in receipt of tax relief at source, TRS, in 2017; the cost of such relief; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21591/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by Revenue that the number of mortgage holders in receipt of tax relief at source in respect of mortgage interest for the year 2016, the latest year for which data are available, is in the order of 419,400 claimants. The provisional cost to the Exchequer in 2016 for such claimants is €184.2 million. A forecast for 2017 is not available.
In my Budget speech last October, I confirmed my intention to extend MIR beyond the current 2017 end date on a tapered basis to 2020, in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. The details of the extension will be set out in Budget 2018. A review of policy considerations and potential costs of such an extension was contained in the Income Tax Reform Plan published by my Department in July last year and may be of interest to the Deputy. The plan is available at: http://www.finance.gov.ie/sites/default/files/Income%20Tax%20Reform%20Plan-FINAL_0.pdf.
