Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 June 2026
481. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the rationale for limiting eligibility under the Fresh Start provision of the local authority purchase and renovation loan (LAPRL) scheme to applicants who have lost ownership of a previous home due to relationship breakdown, insolvency, or bankruptcy. [49220/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra482. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason the provision does not extend to applicants who were required to sell or leave a previous home due to it no longer being suitable for a family member with a disability or additional needs who plan to obtain a derelict home but do not have the funds to start the work and refused mortgages through the bank as one parent is not the sole carer and on a carers allowance. [49221/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra483. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage is he aware of concerns that this may represent an unintended gap in the scheme, adversely affecting families with genuine housing need arising from disability-related circumstances (details supplied) [49222/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra484. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider reviewing or amending the eligibility criteria to ensure that such families are not excluded from accessing the scheme on this basis of disability or additional needs (details supplied) [49223/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 481, 482, 483 and 484 together.
The Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan is a Government backed first time buyer 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.
The loan is available to creditworthy first time buyers or persons who become eligible to be treated as first time buyers under the Fresh Start principle. Eligible applicants for Local Authority mortgages are required to demonstrate their creditworthiness and repayment capacity as part of the application process. Applicants are not excluded from the scheme due to disability or additional needs; they are treated the same as other applicants.
The Fresh Start principle applies to both the Local Authority Home Loan and Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan, this means that the persons who have previously owned a property but have been divested of their interest in their former property as a result of a relationship termination or insolvency are eligible to be treated as first time buyers for the purpose of these schemes.
There are no plans to extend the fresh start principle to include persons who have previously owned a property but disposed of it for any reason other than outlined above.
