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The Tánaiste has pushed back on measures around stamp duty in the Budget that have received support from the Taoiseach.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he has a “favourable disposition” towards scrapping stamp duty for first-time buyers.

Mr Martin backed the proposal by Fianna Fáil housing spokesman Seamus McGrath, who has sought the removal of the tax for first-time buyers in October’s Budget.

Stamp duty is based on the value of the property, with buyers paying 1% of the purchase price up to one million euro, 2% between that figure and 1.5 million euro, and 6% on any higher amount.

However, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris said: “There are no proposals in relation to the programme for government around stamp duty, and therefore, at this moment in time, I am not proposing bringing forward such measures.”

The Fine Gael leader added: “But let me say this: This is not about one party in government or another party in government.

“Everybody in Government is bringing forward their best ideas, their best thinking as how to make progress in housing I don’t doubt that at all.

“But you know there’s a there’s a finite amount we have in the tax package.

“We’ve been clear that the priority this year will be personal income tax, but there will be many many ways in which we’ll be looking to really stimulate housing supply in the Budget.”

Mr Martin had told reporters at the Fianna Fáil think-in earlier this week that the issue “still falls for discussion”.

Mr Harris said housing would remain a “priority” in the Budget, adding: “We did last year take measures on the tax side in relation to housing and stimulating supply.

“We took a conscious decision to do that. We also said when we did that that that would be it in terms of tax.”