Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
354. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Finance the number of applications for the help-to-buy scheme for quarters 1 and 2 in 2020; the number of applications approved in the same period; the estimated annual number of recipients of the scheme in 2020 and 2021; the estimated median payment under the scheme; and the estimated expenditure per year. [20544/20]
View answer356. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Finance the number of recipients of the help-to-buy scheme in 2020; the median payment under the scheme; and the expenditure to date. [20631/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 356 together.
I am advised by Revenue that some 6,847 applications have been received for the Help to buy scheme (HTB) to date this year, for the period 1 January to 30 June 2020. In that same period, some 2,490 claims were approved.
Bearing in mind that HTB is a demand led scheme which is subject to a broad range of variables, including housing completion rates and prices, it is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of the annual number of recipients, the annual expenditure or the median payments made under the scheme for 2020 and 2021.
The estimated total value of approved HTB claims to date, for the period 19 July 2016 to 30 June 2020, is in the order of €281.9 million.
I am advised by Revenue that monthly statistics on the uptake of the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme are published at the following link:
https://www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/tax-expenditures/htb/htb-monthly.aspx.
These statistics are updated to 1 July 2020. The available information includes a breakdown of the numbers of applications for the scheme, the numbers of recipients of refunds, the amounts claimed and the cost in each month.
