176. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the revenue raised by amending the help-to-buy scheme to reduce the LTV ratio 85% with a maximum relief of €30,000. [66208/26]

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.

A condition of the HTB scheme is that a qualifying first-time purchaser (“FTP”) must take out a loan in an amount equal to at least 70% of the purchase value of the property.

Based on the latest available data (31 August 2026), the scheme has supported over 69,000 individuals or couples to buy or build their own home.

I am advised by Revenue that the estimated annual yield to the Exchequer from amending the loan to value ratio to a minimum of 85%, while retaining the maximum relief of €30,000, as outlined by the Deputy, would be €81 million. This estimate is based on claims approved in 2025, the latest year for which fully analysed data are available.