Written answers
Tuesday, 15 July 2025
Department of Finance
Housing Schemes
Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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114. To ask the Minister for Finance the position regarding the help-to-buy scheme, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38825/25]
Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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The Help to Buy incentive is a scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment It also has as an aim to encourage additional supply of new houses by supporting demand. The scheme provides a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax paid in Ireland over the previous four years, subject to certain limits and is legislated to be in place until the end of 2029.
The level of support available to first time buyers is whichever is the lesser of:
- €30,000; or
- 10 per cent of the purchase price of the new property; or,
- the amount of Income Tax and DIRT paid in the four years before application for the relief.
The Programme for Government commits to the retention and revision of the Help to Buy scheme and the extension of the scheme out to 2030.
However, and as the Deputy will appreciate, any amendments to the scheme would have to be considered as part of the annual Budget and Finance Bill processes at the appropriate time, and take into account the effective operation of the scheme and the impact any proposed changes would have on the broader housing market. Furthermore, any such decisions must also have regard to available resources and the sound management of the public finances. It is a longstanding practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment in advance of the Budget on any tax matters which might be the subject of Budget decisions.
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