Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The non-seweraged villages initiative will relate to that purely. Towns and villages that have existing treatment plants will not apply for that fund. I want to get this up and running. I think it can have an impact. The regular capital plan can apply there. I can talk to the Deputy separately about that.

He is 100% right and the affordability measures being brought forward do not just relate to Dublin, Cork or the main cities. I signed off on the first number of affordable purchase homes by way of advance purchase arrangements today. I cannot tell the Deputy where they are but they are outside Dublin and Leinster. I want to see the spread across the country.

The first home shared equity scheme will apply to all first-time buyers or buyers under the Fresh Start principle. I welcome what the Deputy said on Fresh Start. It is a principle that the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, and I, as well as our Government, absolutely believe in. Someone who has had a change in life circumstances, gone through personal insolvency or is starting again should be supported and will be through the measures we are bringing forward as a Government, like we have done with the changes to the local authority affordable housing loan. We have made significant changes there for singles.

The first home shared equity scheme will apply to new builds, first and foremost. I do not envisage a change. That will start at the end of quarter 2 and be operational at the beginning of quarter 3. The Croí Cónaithe towns and villages fund will be a opportunity for vacant properties in our regions. Young and not-so-young couples and Fresh Start and other individuals will get assistance in refurbishing a property to bring it back to use should they wish to live in it. We are targeting initially 2,500 homes. We want to see how it works and if we need to change it, we will do so. I am excited about that initiative. It will make a major difference but we will need to manage it. I expect the Croí Cónaithe towns and villages fund to be announced this quarter, that is, quarter 1.