Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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63. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures he is taking to help first-time house buyers; the impact of these over the past twelve months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36748/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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First-time buyers are being supported under Housing for All and activity is continuing to strengthen, with the number of first-time buyers in the year to June 2024 some 28% higher than the same period in 2021 when Housing for All was introduced.

A number of key measures have been put in place under the Plan, including, for example, the First Home Scheme which supports first time buyers who wish to purchase new homes anywhere in the country, with 4,856 families and individuals approved for funding since the launch of the Scheme to end Quarter 2 2024.

In addition, the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme assists first-time buyers in purchasing Local Authority delivered new homes, with approval already given for more than three thousand affordable purchase homes across 21 local authorities and with 854 homes already delivered to the end of the first quarter in 2024.

The government has also extended the Help to Buy scheme which has been a significant support for first time buyers of new homes. To 31 August 2024, 49,684 first-time buyers have benefited from the scheme.

For those who need help accessing a mortgage, the Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage, available to first time buyers and fresh start applicants, who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home.

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, offers supports to those bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes, including for first-time buyers. To date 9,600 applications have been received and 6,400 approved for this Scheme.

The suite of measures under the Plan are directly supporting first time buyers to access homeownership.