Ministers defend ‘small’ tax perk for second homes

MINISTERS last night defended the tax perk that lets them claim €100,000 a year for second homes, insisting the amounts were “small”.

As pressure mounted on Finance Minister Brian Lenihan to abolish the dual abode allowance, Foreign Minister Micheál Martin said the €3,000 a year in tax relief he takes to help pay the mortgage on his Dublin home was “not huge”.

Tánaiste Mary Coughlan also insisted the perk amounts given to ministers were “small”. “It is made available to ministers who are not entitled to overnight allowances in the context of a small tax relief if they purchase a property.”