Cormac Devlin
Ceist:32. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number and value of successful applications under the help to buy tax refund scheme for 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026. [69216/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 30 September 2026
Ceisteanna (32, 44)
William Aird
Ceist:44. Deputy William Aird asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of first-time buyers who have availed of the help to buy scheme in each of the past three years; the total value of support provided under the scheme; and if he will outline any plans to increase the qualifying property price threshold to ensure continued support for first-time buyers seeking to purchase or build a home. [69188/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 44 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 August 2026), the scheme has supported over 69,000 individuals or couples to buy or build their own home.
Applications for HTB may be made on a provisional basis as first time buyers will want to have information as to their entitlements in advance of commencing the purchase of a property. An application will only progress to the “claim” stage if and when the applicant decides to purchase a property that is eligible for the scheme.
Revenue advise that the table below sets out the number and value of approved claims under the help to buy scheme for 2023, 2024, 2025, and to date in 2026.
|
Year |
Number of approved claims |
Claim amount (€m) |
|
2023 |
6,997 |
185.2 |
|
2024 |
8,541 |
225.5 |
|
2025 |
9,575 |
252.9 |
|
2026 to-date (25 September 2026) |
7,797 |
205.5 |
I am further advised by Revenue that the number of approved applications for HTB and their associated value, for the years 2017 (including retrospective cases for the period 19 July to 31 December 2016) to 2025, broken down by year, can be found in the Help to Buy (HTB) annual statistics reports, which are available on the Revenue website at www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/tax-expenditures/htb/yearly.aspx.
The Programme for Government commits to the retention and revision of the HTB scheme. However, and 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.