Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 March 2026
593. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the ceilings for the first homes scheme will be raised and if he will raise the ceiling for Limerick city as it currently stands at €425,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21709/26]
View answer602. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he plans to increase the property price ceiling for the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21728/26]
View answer632. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will raise the ceiling cap from the present figure of €425,000 in Limerick for the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22243/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 593, 602 and 632 together.
The First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme, designed to help bridge the gap for eligible first-time buyers, eligible homebuyers and self-builders between their deposit/mortgage and the price of their new home (within price ceilings established across the country). Full details are available on the First Home Scheme website, www.firsthomescheme.ie.
The First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company (DAC) is fully responsible for the operation of the First Home Scheme on behalf of all shareholders, including price ceiling reviews. At its launch, the First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company (DAC) announced it would review all price ceilings at 6-month intervals. The DAC takes into account a range of factors as part of these reviews, including the median price and volume of new builds purchased by first time buyers in each local authority area.
At the end of December 2025, the First Home DAC published the outcome of its seventh scheduled review of the price ceilings that apply to qualifying homes and subsequently revised price ceilings. New price ceilings were agreed for 17 local authority areas. The new price ceilings came into effect on 1 January 2026. To note, the current price ceiling for Limerick City and County Council is €425,000 for a house and €450,000 for an apartment. The First Home Scheme DAC will continue to monitor the price ceilings, including in the Limerick area as part of any future review with the next review expected to be complete in late June 2026.
More information on price-ceiling reviews is available at the following link :www.firsthomescheme.ie/about-the-scheme/property-price-ceilings/.
