Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 February 2022
298. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if grants will be available for those who are not first-time buyers but who are first-time builders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5915/22]
View answerHousing for All, the Government's housing plan for Ireland, sets out four pathways to a sustainable housing system. A key objective is that everyone in the State should have access to a home to purchase or rent at an affordable price, built to a high standard and in the right place, offering a high quality of life.
Housing for All recognises that particular challenges arise for facilitating owner-occupation in towns and villages, where viable sites available for building of new homes are in short supply. In this regard, the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) initiative, which will be launched in Q2 2022, will be delivered by local authorities for the provision of serviced sites for housing, to attract people to build their own homes and to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, enabling people to live in small towns and villages, in a sustainable way. A pathfinder programme will be initiated as part of Croí Cónaithe (Towns), to facilitate the making available of some 2,000 sites for homes by 2025.
The Local Authority Home Loan, the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes 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.
In addition, the Help to Buy (HTB) incentive, which is a matter for the Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe T.D., helps first-time buyers buy a newly-built house or apartment. It also applies to once-off self-build homes.
