Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 May 2026
511. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered a rent-to-buy scheme including a State component (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32130/26]
View answerThe Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. Ireland's new housing plan Delivering Homes, Building Communities, contains a suite of actions that have and continue to increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes for our citizens.
Information and guidance on the affordable housing supports currently in place for First Time Buyers, fresh starters and other eligible applicants is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0d279-doors-open/, and this includes information on the schemes below. Furthermore, a number of these schemes can be combined, thereby providing additional affordability support.
• Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme
• First Home Scheme
• Local Authority Home Loan
• Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan
• Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
• Help to Buy
• Cost Rental Homes
There are no plans at this time to introduce a State supported rent-to-buy scheme for social housing eligible tenants.
It should be noted, in relation to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), this is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP.
Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, a tenant sources their own accommodation in the private rented market. This accommodation should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.
Consistent with the provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is considered to be a social housing support and consequently households in receipt of a payment under the HAP scheme are not eligible to remain on the main housing waiting list. Ministerial directions have issued to ensure that, should they so choose, HAP recipients can avail of a move to other forms of social housing support through a transfer list.
Furthermore, local authorities are also directed that HAP recipients who apply to go on the transfer list should get full credit for the time they spent on the waiting list and be placed on the transfer list with no less favourable terms than if they had remained on the waiting list. The practical operation of transfer lists is a matter for each local authority to manage, on the basis of its own scheme of letting priorities. The making of such schemes is a reserved function of the local authority and as such is a matter for its elected members.
