Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage scheme for creditworthy applicants 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 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.

The 'Fresh Start' principle applies to applications for the Local Authority Home Loan where persons who previously purchased or built a property, together with a spouse, a civil partner or a person with whom they were in an intimate and committed relationship may be eligible if the following 3 conditions are met:

• the marriage, civil partnership or relationship concerned has ended, and
• the person is now applying to purchase a property on their own or with a different person, and
• the person has divested themselves of their interest in the previous property.

The "Fresh Start" principle does not apply to an applicant who wishes to buy out their former partner following a separation as they currently own a home.

The regulations underpinning the Local Authority Home Loan are kept under continuous review; however, I have no plans at present to change this eligibility criterion.