Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 May 2026
729. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the specific mechanisms being used by his Department to address the affordability of housing in the wider Dublin area, where housing is priced at a particularly high level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34989/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra728. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the position regarding the specific mechanisms being used by his Department to address the affordability of housing at a national level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34988/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 729 and 728 together.
Affordability and the chance to own a home are at the heart of the Government’s housing policy, as embodied within the new housing plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025–2030. The plan reinforces and expands the range of existing measures being implemented by Government to tackle the issues of supply and affordability. These measures support the increased provision of new homes to purchase and rent nationally including at high levels in the wider Dublin area.
I am committed to increasing the supply of genuinely affordable homes in Dublin and across the State. Government is investing an unprecedented level of funding to support housing supply, which will underpin, among other things, the new Starter Homes Programme delivering an average of 15,000 affordable housing supports annually to 2030.
A number of affordable housing supports are currently in place, and more information is available online at: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0d279-doors-open/. A number of these schemes can be combined, thereby providing additional affordability support.
Starter Home Purchase Scheme
Local Authorities make newly built homes available at a reduced price for first-time and other eligible buyers, who cannot afford to purchase a home at its open market value with the maximum mortgage available to them. The Local Authority takes on a percentage share in the value of home, equal to the difference between the open market value of the home and the reduced price paid. For example, if a home is purchased at a 20% reduction on the open market value, the Local Authority will have a 20% equity share in the home, which can be bought back later. Dublin delivery is 25% of Starter Purchase national delivery since 2022 to Q4 2025. For more information visit www.affordablehomes.ie.
First Home Scheme
The First Home Scheme provides finance to help first-time buyers, self-builders or those making a fresh start, in order to bridge the gap between a deposit and mortgage, and the price of a new home, within price ceilings established across the country. This Scheme takes a percentage share in the value of the home, which you can buy back later. 25% of approvals issued have been for buyers in the Dublin region. For more information on the scheme visit www.firsthomescheme.ie.
Local Authority Home Loan
The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers and certain other credit-worthy applicants who have been refused a mortgage or who have been offered an insufficient mortgage through a regular mortgage lender. The scheme is for the purchase of new or second-hand residential properties and for self-builds. It also includes the purchase of homes through the Starter Home Purchase Scheme. The Local Authority Home Loan is available nationwide from all local authorities. To note, LAHL also supports the Tenant Purchase Scheme for social housing, for which applicants can apply for 100% financing (i.e. no deposit is required).
Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is a payment a customer can get if they are turning a vacant house or building into their permanent home or a rental property. A grant of up to €50,000 is available. If the refurbishment costs exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 is available. For more information visit www.gov.ie/en/service/f8f1b-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant/.
Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan
The Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan is a Government backed mortgage and loan for the purchase and renovation of derelict and non-habitable homes. The property must be eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, whether derelict, non-habitable, or simply vacant. For more information visit: https://purchaseandrenovationloan.ie/.
Help to Buy
The Help to Buy scheme can help with a deposit for a new or self-build home. It is a refund on income and DIRT tax paid in Ireland in the last four-years. The scheme comes under the remit of Revenue and the Department of Finance. Information on Help to Buy is available at the following link: www.revenue.ie/en/property/help-to-buy-incentive/index.aspx.
Cost Rental
Cost Rental tenancies are a form of long-term sustainable home rental targeted at middle-income households. Under the Cost Rental model, rents for homes are set to cover only the cost of financing, building, managing and maintaining the homes. The Cost Rental system offers prospective tenants the advantages of security of tenure, rents which are at least 25% below the rents charged for similar dwellings in the same areas and minimal rent increase. An applicants annual net household income should not exceed €66,000 in Dublin and €59,000 elsewhere. To note, Dublin is 72% of cost rental national delivery since 2022 to Q4 2025. More information on cost rental homes is available at https://affordablehomes.ie/.
My Department publishes comprehensive programme-level statistics on a quarterly basis, including for starter home delivery activity by local authority area. Data from 2022 to 2025 is currently published on the statistics page of my Department’s website: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/overall-social-and-affordable-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.
