Housing authorities have powers to make low cost sites available to persons who are qualified for social housing support and to voluntary or co-operative non-profit housing groups. I have no plans at present to amend the conditions under which such sites are made available.
A range of measures are being taken under the Government's Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, to increase housing supply overall, with the aim of creating a better functioning and more sustainable housing system which can meet housing demand at more affordable prices.
Assistance to first time buyers is also available under the Help to Buy Scheme, introduced by my colleague, the Minister for Finance. In addition, households may be eligible for a local authority mortgage or Home Choice Loan to finance their house purchase; further details are available from individual local authorities.