Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Authority Home Loan (LAHL) is a Government-backed mortgage 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 Housing Agency provides a central support service that assesses applications for the Local Authority Home Loan and its predecessor the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications.

The final decision on loan approval is a matter for the relevant local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authorities.

My Department regularly publishes information on the number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns for both the Local Authority Home Loan. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower. My Department does not collect statistics on the number of applications submitted to Local Authorities.

Information on drawdowns, approvals, average drawdowns, and average approvals for the Local Authority Home Loan up to Q2 2023 is available on my Department’s website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/42d2f-local-authority-loan-activity/#local-authority-loans-approvedpaid.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The First Home Scheme, launched on 7 July 2022, supports first-time buyers in purchasing new houses and apartments in the private market through the use of an equity share model. Details are available at: www.firsthomescheme.ie.

The Scheme is overseen and managed by the First Home Scheme Ireland Designated Activity Company (First Home Scheme DAC), on behalf of scheme founders (the State and participating mortgage lenders). This body is responsible for collating and issuing statistical information as it pertains to the scheme.

The First Home DAC has published its Q4 2023 Public Update, covering the period to 31 December 2023, which can be found on its website at: www.firsthomescheme.ie/media/ztwdc5rm/2023-q4-update.pdf.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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2023 Housing expenditure, including for the delivery of social and affordable homes, is currently being finalised and will be published in due course.