Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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601. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the options or supports available to a person (details supplied) to financially assist with purchasing a property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54852/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has committed to introduce a new national housing plan to follow Housing for All, including a Starter Home programme to promote home ownership and secure long-term rental. Delivering on that Programme for Government commitment will form part of our new housing plan.

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

These measures are primarily aimed at supporting affordability constrained households, including single income households, with incomes too high to qualify for social housing, including the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme, the First Home Scheme and Cost Rental.

In addition, the Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage for creditworthy applicants who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build.

Other measures such as the Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Scheme, the Help to Buy Incentive, the Ready to Build Scheme and the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant are also available to help make home ownership more affordable.

More information about the range of schemes available, including specific scheme criteria, can be found at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/campaigns/doors-open/ .

Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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602. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a person may combine the croí cónaithe (towns) scheme and the help-to-buy scheme to purchase a property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54853/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application.

The Help-to-Buy incentive is a scheme to assist First-time Buyers in meeting the deposit requirements for newly-built houses or apartments, as well as self-build homes. The scheme has restrictions on what can be considered as a qualifying property. The property must never have been used, or have been suitable for use, as a residential home. If the property was non-residential, but has been converted for residential use, it may qualify for Help to Buy.

The scheme comes within the remit of the Revenue Commissioners. More information on Help to Buy, including on restrictions and eligibility, is available at the following link: www.revenue.ie/en/property/help-to-buy-incentive/index.aspx.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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603. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if, given spiralling building material and tradespeople costs, he will consider substantially raising the maximum adaptation grant of €40,000, which older and disabled people report as being significantly inadequate to cover the costs of necessary adaptations of their homes to facilitate independent living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54854/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding under the suite of Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People, to assist those in private houses to make their accommodation more suitable for their needs. The suite of grants, which include the Housing Adaptation Grant for Disabled People, the Mobility Aids Grant and the Housing Aid for Older People Grant, are funded by my Department with a contribution from the local authority. The detailed administration of the scheme including assessment, approval, prioritisation and apportionment is the responsibility of local authorities.

My Department completed a review of the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and People with a Disability scheme in 2024. The Housing (Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People) Regulations 2024 (S.I. No. 612 of 2024), which came into effect on 1 December 2024, provide the legal basis for the introduction of the recommendations set out in the review. The key changes include an increase in the grant limits of over 30% and the income thresholds by 25% whilst also revising the means test. The legislation also adjusts the burden sharing for local authorities by reducing the local authority funding contribution to 15% (from the previous 20%). The Report on the Review is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/report-on-the-review-of-the-housing-adaptation-grants-for-older-people-and-people-with-a-disability/

The funding provision for the Housing Adaptation Grants for Older People and Disabled People scheme increased by €25 million in 2025, with almost €100 million allocated. Budget 2026 provides a further increase of €30 million for the scheme, with almost €130 million available, continuing the year on year increases since 2014. This increase will facilitate the continued implementation of the recommendations set out in the review ensuring that the grants remain fit for purpose for older and disabled people.

John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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604. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a house that had block work completed before 2008 will be considered substantially complete for the vacant property grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54871/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, introduced in July 2022, provides a grant of up to €50,000 for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence and for properties which will be made available for rent. A top-up grant of up to €20,000 is available where the property is confirmed to be derelict, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property up to a maximum of €70,000. In order to qualify for the grant, the property must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application.

The grant is available in respect of vacant and derelict properties built up to and including 2007, in towns, villages, cities and rural areas.

The objective of the grant is to support the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties, bringing them back into use as homes. Works must relate to the refurbishment of an existing dwelling in keeping with the objectives of the scheme. While the Department issues guidance on the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, it has no direct role in deciding on individual applications. The grant is administered and managed by local authorities, who process and decide on applications and issue grant payments on completion of approved refurbishment works.

Queries on eligibility are a matter for the Vacant Homes Officer in the relevant local authority area in the first instance.

Vacant Homes Officers (VHOs) are in place in all local authorities and play a vital role in supporting Government measures to target vacancy at a local level. VHOs are available to provide advice, support and guidance to the public in relation to the schemes in place to tackle vacancy. A full list of VHOs and their contact details can be found here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/f59b3-vacant-homes-officer-contacts/ .