Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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162. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider extending the first home scheme to include renovation projects, subject, if required, to the retention of a modest equity stake; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15860/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The policy objective of the First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, is to encourage greater supply of new build homes and to increase home ownership by supporting eligible first-time buyers in acquiring new homes in the private market through the use of an equity share model.

The First Home Scheme is administered by the First Home Scheme Ireland DAC, which is responsible for the governance and operations of the scheme. Further information on the scheme, including eligibility requirements, is available on the official website at: www.firsthomescheme.ie. It would be a matter for the DAC to consider whether to extend the First Home Scheme to include renovation projects and I am not aware of any plans to extend the scheme in that regard.

Facilities are already available through mortgage providers for households to access top up mortgages where that household may want to renovate or improve their existing dwelling. An SEAI Better Energy Home Scheme Grant may also be available.

Separately, the Government’s Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund can provide a grant of up to a maximum of €30,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence, including the conversion of a property which has not been used as residential heretofore. Where the refurbishment costs are expected to exceed the standard grant of up to €30,000, a maximum top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 will be available where the property is confirmed by the applicant to be derelict (i.e. structurally unsound and dangerous) bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €50,000. In addition, an SEAI Better Energy Home Scheme Grant may be available in combination with this grant.

Details of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/f8f1b-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant/.