Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 7 September 2026
799. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the position regarding any review of the help to buy scheme that would account for a couple seeking to buy a house where only one has previously owned property, resulting in the couple not being in a position to qualify; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61954/26]
View answer800. 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 (details supplied); if any flexibility possible in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61953/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 799 and 800 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 previously been used as a dwelling. Additionally, the purchase value/approved valuation of the property must not exceed €500,000.
Based on the latest available data (31 July 2026), the scheme has supported over 68,000 individuals or couples to buy or build their own home.
Section 477C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 requires that applicants for the Help to Buy scheme must be first-time purchasers, which is defined as "an individual who, at the time of a claim .... has not, either individually or jointly with any other person, previously purchased or previously built, directly or indirectly, on his or her own behalf a dwelling".
There are no exceptions to the Help to Buy definition of first-time purchaser. This includes circumstances where there is more than one person involved in the purchase or building of a new home.
The intention behind this is to target the tax relief on those who have not had the opportunity to build up equity in another property which could be used to purchase the second or subsequent property and those who could not have availed of Help to Buy relief previously.
While a number of other supports are available to non first time buyer applicants including the First Home scheme and the Local Authority Affordable Purchase scheme, these schemes are not based on the refund of Income Tax previously paid.
As the Deputy will 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 commitments set out in the Programme for Government and the impact any proposed changes would have on the wider housing market. It is a longstanding practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment in advance of the Budget on any tax matters which might be the subject of Budget decisions.
