Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 273: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of first-time buyers in each county each year since 2002. [39749/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department does not have definitive figures on the number of first-time buyers in the housing market or a breakdown by county. However, using data on the numbers of loans drawn down for new and second hand houses, together with data received from the financial institutions as part of the development of a more comprehensive housing price statistical system, the following estimates are available at a national level:

As the above data is based on profiling those taking out mortgages for house purchase purposes, it will not cover all purchases of new or second-hand houses. It is estimated that in 2005 approximately 45% of new house loans and 30% of second hand house loans were taken out by first-time buyers.