Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

381. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the financial assistance or schemes open to persons (details supplied) to help them acquire a family home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36372/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Affordability and the chance to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy and as detailed in the Housing for All strategy, a number of measures have been introduced to support households and individuals wishing to purchase a home.

This includes measures which are in place to support first time buyers and those who have experienced a 'Fresh Start' event such as divorce, separation or financial insolvency, bankruptcy.

In order to be eligible under the Fresh Start principle ‘Fresh Start’, under the Affordable Housing Act 2021 (as amended), the following additional provisions must be met:

• the most recently owned dwelling must have been lost as a result of the fresh start event;
• the person has divested themselves of their interest in any previous properties purchased or built;
• if the ‘Fresh Start’ event is due to divorce or separation, the person is now applying to purchase a property on their own or with a different person.