Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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661. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total Exchequer cost of the first home scheme to date; the number of households supported; the average State equity share; and the projected annual cost of the scheme to 2030. [63937/25]

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 for eligible first-time buyers, eligible homebuyers, and self-builders, between their deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home within price ceilings established across the country. Full details are available on the First Home Scheme website, www.firsthomescheme.ie.

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 and, as such, is responsible for First Home Scheme reporting.

In May 2025, the Government agreed to extend the First Home Scheme to June 2027, supported by an additional €30m in Exchequer funding, bringing the total state commitment to the Scheme to €370m and matched 50:50 by the participating banks. The total commitment across all participants is, as such, €740m. Any further extension of the scheme would a matter for the First Home Board.

Of this commitment, €210 million of State Exchequer funding has been drawn down to date by the DAC (€40m in 2022, €40m in 2023, €50m in 2024 and €80m in 2025).

As a demand-led measure, there is no annual ceiling on supported purchases. Financial support is allocated as and when eligible applications are processed and thereafter funding is drawn down as the standard conveyancing process is completed.

Quarterly and annual updates are made available on the First Home Scheme website. First Home Scheme DAC published their Q3 2025 report on 13 October 2025. The report shows continued strong interest in the scheme, with almost 8,400 buyers approved and over 4,100 homes already bought since the start of the scheme. 794 buyers were approved and 425 homes bought or built using Scheme support in Q3 2025 alone. The average support received by each buyer is €66,299. The report can be found at the following link: www.firsthomescheme.ie/media/hdkfue5i/fhs-q3-2025.pdf.

Furthermore, the First Home 2024 Annual Report, including information in relation to the number of homes in each local authority area supported under the scheme, is available here: www.firsthomescheme.ie/about-the-company/annual-reports/.

My Department also publishes quarterly data on overall affordable housing provision, with the delivery figures for First Home broken down by Local Authority area, available at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#affordable-housing-delivery.