Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 January 2026
380. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to concerns related to the help to buy scheme concerning the upper monetary cap; the actions he will take to address these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4488/26]
View answer381. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the position regarding any review being carried out of the help to buy scheme and the monetary limits applied, particularly in the context of increasing house prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4489/26]
View answer382. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if he will consider amending the help to buy scheme, specifically in areas where the cost of purchasing a home is higher than the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4490/26]
View answer383. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to cases whereby applicants to the help to buy scheme qualify under all criteria but cannot find a suitable home under the €500,000 spending cap; if any flexibility can be applied in these cases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4491/26]
View answer384. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the position regarding the help to buy scheme purchase threshold; if there has been any consideration given to increasing this threshold for properties purchased in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4492/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 380 to 384, inclusive, together.
The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive, is a tax-based scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. It also aims to encourage additional supply of new houses by supporting demand.
HTB provides a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in Ireland over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation.
The level of support available to first time buyers under the HTB scheme, is whichever is the lesser of:
• €30,000; or
• 10 per cent of the purchase price of the new property; or,
• the amount of Income Tax and DIRT paid in the four years before application for the relief.
For a property to qualify for the HTB scheme, it must be new or converted for use as a dwelling, having not been previously been used as a dwelling. Additionally, the purchase value/approved valuation of the property must not exceed €500,000. The terms of the scheme are set out in section 477C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 and must be applied, by Revenue, as provided for in the legislation.
Based on the latest available data (30 November 2025), the scheme has supported over 61,000 individuals or couples to buy or build their own home. The average property value of approved HTB claims was €360,500.
The Programme for Government commits to the retention and revision of the HTB scheme.
Any revisions to the scheme would have to take into account the effective operation of the scheme and the impact any proposed changes would have on the broader housing market, but these matters will be kept under review. As he Deputy will also appreciate, decisions regarding taxation measures are made in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill processes, at the appropriate time, having regard to the sound management of the public finances and the impact any proposed changes would have on the wider housing market.
