Written answer
Housing Schemes
786. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the number of help-to-buy claims approved since July 2020, by county; the number of applicants associated with these claims; the number of claims by homebuyers excluding self-builds, by county; and the number of these claims relating to purchases. [57287/26]
Comment on this
The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive, is a tax-based scheme to assist first-time purchasers with the deposit they need to buy or build a new house or apartment. It also aims to encourage additional supply of new houses by supporting demand.
HTB provides a refund of Income Tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) paid in Ireland over the previous four years, subject to limits outlined in the legislation.
The level of support available to first time buyers under the HTB scheme, is whichever is the lesser of:
• €30,000; or
• 10 per cent of the purchase price of the new property; or
• the amount of Income Tax and DIRT paid in the four years before application for the relief.
For a property to qualify for the HTB scheme, it must be new or converted for use as a dwelling, having not previously been used as a dwelling. Additionally, the purchase value/approved valuation of the property must not exceed €500,000.
In relation to second-hand properties, an increase in the supply of new housing remains a priority aim of Government policy. The HTB scheme is specifically designed to support the demand for affordable new build homes so as to encourage the construction of an additional supply of such properties.
Based on the latest available data (30 June 2026), the scheme has supported over 67,000 individuals or couples to buy or build their own home.
I am advised by Revenue that, in the period between 01 July 2020 and 22 July 2026, there were 48,878 approved HTB claims covering 88,532 individual applicants. 37,983 of these approved claims related to purchases while the remaining 10,895 related to self-builds.
The table below provides a breakdown of these approved claims and applicants by county.