Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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124. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if any changes are likely to be made in relation to the price ceiling under the first home scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3674/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers, as well as buyers who are eligible under Housing for All’s ‘Fresh Start’ principle, in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. Full information on the scheme is available on the First Home Scheme dedicated website, www.firsthomescheme.ie.

The Scheme is overseen and managed independently by the First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company (DAC), which is responsible for reporting and operations. At the Scheme's launch, it was announced by the First Home that a review of price ceilings would be undertaken within 6 months. This review was conducted towards the end of 2022 on the basis of the most up to date Residential Property Price Index data on the sales prices of new homes sold, as published by the CSO, as well as a study of the prices of new homes available on the market. The review also factored in the evident increase in construction costs.

That review is now complete, and the revised price ceilings were put in place by First Home DAC from 1 January 2023. The revised price ceilings are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie/about/property-price-ceilings/.

At a press event confirming the new ceilings on 9 January 2023, First Home Scheme DAC confirmed that future review of price ceilings will be conducted on a 6-monthly basis.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of tenants that were housed in counties Cavan and Monaghan under the housing assistance payment scheme. [3583/23]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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172. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the means of housing assistance payment can be increased to match increases in rent and cost-of-living in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [3584/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 172 together.

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q3 2022, over 106,700 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 59,600 households actively in receipt of HAP support.

Under Housing for All, my Department was tasked with undertaking an analytical exercise to examine whether the level of discretion available to Local Authorities under HAP was adequate. The Housing Agency carried out this analytical exercise, on behalf of my Department, to better understand what level of discretion should be made available to Local Authorities under HAP to maintain adequate levels of support.

Following receipt and analysis of this review, I, in cooperation with Government colleagues and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, approved an increase in the HAP discretion rate from 20% to 35% and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single person households. This will secure more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness. Both these measures came into effect from 11 July 2022.

A separate review of the discretion available to Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin, which is up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits, is currently being undertaken by my Department, in conjunction with the Housing Agency.

Data in relation to HAP tenancies in Cavan and Monaghan is set out in the table below:

My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review.