Govt under fire over mortgage relief confusion

The Government is coming under fire amid confusion over the new rules on mortgage interest relief that were announced in the emergency Budget.

The changes limit the relief to the first seven years of a mortgage.

Yesterday, the Revenue Commissioners said they would be ending the relief for thousands of mortgage holders until it can be proven that they are entitled to receive it.

First-time buyers who have purchased within the past seven years will not be hit, but the move will affect people who taken out a second mortgage..

Sinn Féin TD Arthur Morgan says the confusion is a result of another botched budgetary measure introduced by the Government.