Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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443. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the options available to support a person buying a second home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18581/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Government's Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness is firmly focused on increasing supply and the priority for Government attention is to support those in society with the greatest housing access and affordability challenges. In that context, the focus is on meeting the housing needs of those in the lower income categories, particularly those in need of social housing supports and other households that are most challenged from an affordability perspective, particularly first-time buyers. The significant progress being made in these areas is outlined on the Rebuilding Ireland website at www.rebuildingireland.ie.

In addition, the Government has taken a number of steps to assist homeowners who wish to 'up-size' from the starter home they purchased but find themselves in negative equity. In appropriate cases, the Central Bank is allowing banks to provide new mortgages to people to move home, even if the homeowner is currently experiencing negative equity. In addition, housing loans for borrowers in negative equity, who wish to obtain a mortgage for a new property, are not included within the scope of the Loan to Value limits.