Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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219. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to consider the introduction of additional supports for middle-income public sector workers, such as teachers and special needs assistants, who do not qualify for social housing but remain unable to secure a mortgage due to high property prices and lending restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5439/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is acutely aware of the housing challenges faced by many sectors of society. Housing for All, Ireland's housing plan to 2030, is the most ambitious and comprehensive housing plan in the history of the State. The Plan contains a suite of actions that have and continue to increase the provision of housing through accelerating supply and increasing the affordability of homes for our citizens.

Under the Programme for Government published in January 2025, the Government committed to introduce a new, all of government, national housing plan to follow Housing for All. My Department is currently examining that commitment, its implementation and the potential timeframe.

While work is being undertaken to progress a new plan which will build on progress to date, the measures detailed in Housing for All will continue to be progressed to accelerate and increase delivery of secure and affordable housing.

The Housing for All plan can be accessed at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/ef5ec-housing-for-all-a-new-housing-plan-for-ireland/#view-the-plan, with updates to the plan available online: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/a8894-housing-for-all-update/.

In terms of affordable housing options in general, a number of affordable housing supports are in place under Housing for All, with eligible first time buyers, self-builders or those making a fresh start being able to benefit from the following schemes. A number of these can be combined, thereby providing additional affordability support.

• First Home Scheme

• Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme

• Local Authority Home Loan

• Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan

• Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

• Cost Rental Homes

• Help to Buy

The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for first-time buyers and certain other eligible applicants who have been refused a mortgage through a regular mortgage lender. The scheme is for the purchase of new or second-hand residential properties and for self-builds. It also includes the purchase of homes through Affordable Housing Schemes, with the exception of the First Home Scheme. The Local Authority Home Loan is available nationwide from all local authorities. More information on the Local Authority Home Loan is available at the following link: localauthorityhomeloan.ie/.

In addition, the Housing for All strategy introduced Cost Rental tenancies as a new form of long-term sustainable home rental targeted at middle-income households.

A list of affordable housing supports in place is available at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0d279-doors-open/.

Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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220. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has examined international housing policies, such as 0% mortgage schemes, shared equity initiatives, or expanded State-backed mortgage lending, to support individuals who can afford mortgage repayments but struggle with deposit and lending criteria in the Irish housing market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5440/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Affordability and the opportunity to own a home is at the heart of the Government’s housing policy. The Housing for All plan supports households and individuals to purchase a home, through affordability measures and by increasing the supply of new homes.

The Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme (LAAPS) is a shared equity scheme which sees local authorities make new homes available for purchase by eligible applicants at reduced prices. In return, the local authority takes a percentage equity stake in the Affordable Purchase home equal to the discount of the purchase price from the full market value of the home. For affordable homes purchased under the LAAPS, purchasers pay a price for their new home in accordance with their purchasing power, calculated as outlined in the Affordable Housing Regulations of 2023.

The First Home Scheme is also a shared equity scheme and makes home ownership achievable by bridging the gap for first-time buyers, other eligible homebuyers, and self-builders between their deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home within regional price ceiling.

Other measures such as the Local Authority Home Loan, the Help to Buy Incentive, and the Ready to Build Scheme are also available to help make home ownership more accessible.

These measures under Housing for All are primarily aimed at supporting affordability constrained households, first-time buyers and Fresh Start applicants and are regularly reviewed by my Department.