Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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237. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if further assistance will be provided for a couple (details supplied) in County Kildare to purchase their own home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44911/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under Housing for All a number of schemes have been made available to support purchasers including first-time buyers in accessing more affordable homes.

The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January last for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. Further information on the scheme, including terms and conditions, is available on the dedicated website localauthorityhomeloan.ie/.

Launched on 7 July this year, the First Home Scheme supports first-time buyers and also applicants under the Government’s ‘Fresh Start’ principle. It is being delivered by First Home Scheme DAC, a strategic partnership between the State and participating mortgage lenders. The Scheme will improve access to newly-built homes on the private market by using a shared equity model to bridge the gap between mortgage finance and the cost of new homes. Support of up to 30% of the home value (or 20% if Help to Buy is also utilised) is the maximum available under the scheme. The homes must be priced within regional price ceilings which will reflect the median prices paid by first-time buyers in each area, and will therefore support home purchases in the lower region of the market. Further details on this scheme can be found at www.firsthomescheme.ie/.

The Help to Buy incentive can in its own right can support first-time buyers in obtaining a newly-built house or apartment, or a self-build home. Subject to the level of income tax and DIRT paid over the previous 4 years, the Help-to-Buy scheme provides a maximum benefit to first-time buyers of €30,000 or 10% of the cost of the newly constructed home. Further information on the Help to Buy incentive is available at .

I can confirm that Departmental funding has been made available via the Affordable Housing Fund to local authorities to support their delivery of affordable via the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme. This scheme assists first-time buyers purchasing Local Authority-delivered new homes by bridging the gap between the market value of the home and the combined value of the buyer's mortgage and deposit.

Finally, matters such as mortgage deposit requirements and borrowing limits come under the remit of the Central Bank of Ireland, which is an independent body. However, it should be noted that there are limited exemptions allowed to these rules. For first-time buyers, 20% of mortgages can be above the standard 3.5x income limit, and 5% of mortgages can have a lower deposit that the normal 10% required. Relevant information is available at the following Central Bank links:

www.centralbank.ie/consumer-hub/explainers/what-are-the-mortgage-measures and

www.centralbank.ie/financial-system/financial-stability/macro-prudential-policy/mortgage-measures.