James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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73. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applicants that have availed of the first home scheme by county; the amount that is drawn down in monetary value; the number of applicants that have availed of the help to buy scheme by county; and the amount drawn down in monetary value, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53897/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The First Home Scheme, which launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme, designed to help bridge the gap between the deposit and mortgage for eligible first-time buyers, Fresh Start applicants and self-builders, and the price of their new home (within price ceilings established across the country). Full details are available on the First Home Scheme website.

The First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company is responsible for the operation and management of the First Home Scheme on behalf of its shareholders - the State, Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland and Permanent TSB and, as such, is responsible for First Home Scheme reporting.

Quarterly and annual updates are made available on the First Home Scheme website at the following link: www.firsthomescheme.ie/about-the-company/quarterly-updates/. The most recent report, Q2 2025, indicated 7,605 applicants had been issued with Eligibility Certs for the scheme and 3,691 homes purchased or built. The Q2 report further detailed that 72% of Eligibility Certs had issued in Dublin, Kildare, Cork, Meath and Wicklow and on average the scheme has provided €66,324 in equity support to applicants.

The First Home 2024 Annual Report also includes detailed information in relation to the number of homes in each local authority area supported under the scheme and this is also available through the FHS website at the following link: www.firsthomescheme.ie/about-the-company/annual-reports/.

My Department publishes quarterly data on overall affordable housing provision, with the delivery figures for the First Home Scheme broken down by Local Authority area available on our website here: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/collections/overall-social-and-affordable-housing-provision/.

The Help to Buy incentive falls under the remit of the Department of Finance and Revenue and as such, any queries in relation to it would be best directed to that Department.