Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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997. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the amendment to the defective concrete blocks grant scheme asserts that homeowners who completed remediation early were not disadvantaged by the transitional provisions of the 2022 Act; given that 43 homeowners completed remediation prior to the proposed cut-off for retrospective increases, to clarify how these homeowners will benefit from the increased grant cap and rates; to provide details of his Department's plan to ensure that no early mover is financially penalised as a result of the scheme's retrospective provisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57765/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks Act 2022 (the Act) commenced on 22 June 2023 and contains the grant scheme and the related Regulations, which were adopted on 29 June 2023.

The decision from Government in 2021 was that applicants under the previous DCB grant scheme would not be disadvantaged from being early movers and would benefit from the increased grant amounts that were available under the current scheme upon its commencement in 2023. This was allowed for in the 2022 Act under transitional provisions and these early movers have benefited from the increased scheme cap and grant rates provided for.

A review mechanism is provided within the Act, which provides for an increase or decrease in the overall grant scheme cap a year after the Act has been commenced by no more than 10%, in accordance with the conditions of Section 11 of the Act.

Last October, the Government increased the amount a homeowner can receive under the scheme by 10% from €420,000 to €462,000. Similarly, the per square metre rates that are used to calculate the grant amount were also increased in November 2024 by between 7.4% and 8.7%.

The Act provides that any increase in the scheme cap or grant rates will apply to eligible relevant owners that are yet to receive a determination in respect of remediation option and grant amount.

My Department sought legal advice that confirmed that extending these increases to a wider group of relevant owners requires amending the Act.

Government approval was granted for the priority drafting of the Remediation of Dwellings Damaged by the Use of Defective Concrete Blocks (Amendment) Bill which will contain details of the wider group of relevant owners that can avail of increases in the grant scheme cap and rates approved in October and November 2024 along with a number of technical amendments. This legislation is being progressed as expeditiously as possible and the Bill is included in the Autumn 2025 Government Legislation Programme for Priority Publication.

Charles Ward (Donegal, 100% Redress Party)
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998. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will clarify the position regarding the eligibility of apartments, duplexes and other multi-unit dwellings under the enhanced defective concrete blocks grant scheme; the reason, under the previous scheme, the term “dwelling” was defined to include a house, apartment, duplex or maisonette, whereas under the enhanced scheme, the term “dwelling” is now restricted to a house, thereby excluding apartments, maisonettes and duplexes; if he will acknowledge that, in view of this legislative change, it is incorrect to suggest that all affected homes can be remediated, as only certain types of homes are eligible; if he will outline the actions he intends to take to rectify this matter and ensure that residents of apartments and multi-unit developments are not excluded from access to redress; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57775/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Apartments are not eligible for remediation under the current Defective Concrete Blocks (DCB) scheme.

In January 2023, Minister Darragh O'Brien, the then Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, announced plans to draft legislation to support the remediation of apartments and duplexes with fire safety, structural safety and water ingress defects, constructed between 1991 and 2013. A Structural Safety Defect means a defect in a structural or load-bearing element of a building (foundations, walls, floors, roofs, balconies, etc.) that is attributable to defective design, defective or faulty workmanship, defective materials (or any combination of these), that is in contravention of Part A of the Building Regulations at the time of construction.

On the 18 September 2024 Government gave approval for the priority drafting of the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill which will provide a statutory basis for the establishment of a remediation scheme aimed at protecting the safety and welfare of those living in apartments or duplexes with such defects that occurred during construction. Work on the Apartment and Duplex Defects Remediation Bill is progressing and it is envisaged that, subject to the legislative process, structural defects arising from DCB in apartments will be covered under the statutory scheme.

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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1000. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government for an update on his Department’s work to extend the first home scheme to second-hand homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57785/25]

Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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1038. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is aware that the structure of first-time buyer supports, including the help-to-buy scheme and the first home scheme, effectively restricts first-time buyers to the purchase of new-build properties; if he accepts that this limitation disadvantages buyers in regional towns where second-hand housing stock is more readily available and often more affordable; if he will acknowledge the evidence that these schemes have contributed to price inflation in new developments; and if he will consider extending eligibility for such supports to include the purchase of existing homes, particularly in areas where the supply of second-hand housing is strong but affordability remains a barrier. [58583/25]

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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1074. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will review the effectiveness of the first home scheme and the help-to-buy scheme in enabling middle-income earners to purchase homes in high-cost regions. [58983/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1000, 1038 and 1074 together.

The First Home Scheme is a shared equity scheme designed to help bridge the gap between a purchaser’s deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home, within regional price ceilings. First-time buyers, Fresh Start applicants and those who wish to build their first home are eligible to apply. It is also available for tenants to purchase their current rental property where they have received a Notice of Termination because the landlord is selling the property.

Like many of the first time buyers supports, one of the aims of the First Home Scheme is to help stimulate new housing supply by supporting realisable demand for homes. On 13 October, the First Home Scheme published its Quarter 3 2025 report. The report showed continued strong interest in the Scheme, with almost 8,400 buyers approved and 4,118 homes already bought or built using the scheme, supporting individuals and families across all 31 local authority areas.

The First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company (DAC) 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. The Scheme has been expanded twice, responding to Government’s evolving priorities, with the Tenant Home Purchase Scheme introduced in April 2023 and expanded again in September 2023 to include self-build homes for the first time.

The First Home Scheme reviews all price ceilings at six-month intervals. The DAC takes into account a range of factors as part of these reviews, including the median price and volume of new builds purchased by first time buyers in each local authority area. At the end of June 2025, the DAC published the outcome of its sixth scheduled review of the price-ceilings that apply to qualifying homes. New price-ceilings were agreed for 16 local authority areas and came into effect on 1 July 2025. The next six monthly review of price ceilings is scheduled to take place by the end of the year.

In relation to price inflation, the First Home Scheme commissioned KPMG in 2024 and again in 2025, to examine if the existence of the shared-equity option was contributing to the rise in property prices. The Impact of the First Home Scheme (2025) report found that there was no evidence that the First Home Scheme has contributed materially to the inflation in new home values and that it has made a positive impact on the accessibility of home ownership and to housing delivery.

Within the Programme for Government is a commitment to work with the Banks to expand the First Home Scheme to second-hand homes. While the Government’s clear priority right now is accelerating and increasing new housing supply, I have requested the First Home Scheme to undertake the required analytical and technical work to examine the potential for an expansion to second hand homes and the matter is under consideration. Any decision to extend the scheme would require the agreement of the shareholders.

Furthermore, a number of supports are available for first time buyers of second hand homes. Some information on the schemes that may be used to purchase second-hand homes is set out below.

Local Authority Home Loan

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 or have received an insufficient loan offer 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

Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan

The Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan is a Government backed mortgage and loan for the purchase and renovation of derelict and non-habitable homes. The property must be eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, whether derelict, non-habitable or simply vacant. For more information, visit: purchaseandrenovationloan.ie/

Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant

The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is available to turn a vacant house or building into a permanent home or a rental property. A grant of up to €50,000 is available. If the refurbishment costs exceed the standard grant of up to €50,000, a top-up grant amount of up to €20,000 may be available. For more information, visit www.gov.ie/en/service/f8f1b-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant/

A list of other affordable housing supports in place is available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/0d279-doors-open/

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