Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 February 2026
201. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to increase the maximum market value purchase ceiling under the local authority home loan in County Cork from €330,000 to €450,000, to align with the current ceiling under the first home scheme, as the existing limit is resulting in many purchasers who have received loan approval from the local authority being unable to secure a suitable home. [10664/26]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial lenders to purchase or build a home. The loan has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The LAHL is a successor loan to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan. The loan can be used for both the purchase of new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. The LAHL cannot be used in conjunction with the First Home Scheme.
Both the Programme for Government 2025 and Delivering Homes: Building Communities commit to reviewing house price and income thresholds of the LAHL to ensure that it remains an accessible route to home ownership in the current housing market. This review is in process and any changes to the LAHL scheme arising from it will be announced in due course.
