5. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide an update on the review of the help to buy scheme; if consideration is being given to adjusting the eligibility criteria or value thresholds in response to recent changes in house prices and inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28246/25]

Sentiment score: 0.21

My question concerns the help to buy scheme and its future direction. The programme for Government commits to both retaining and revising the scheme. Given the significant rise in house prices, particularly in north Dublin, has consideration been given to adjusting the eligibility criteria or value threshold to ensure the scheme remains relevant and accessible to first-time buyers of my generation?

Sentiment score: 0.38

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. I welcome the Minister said that. I have met developers in north Dublin and across the country and they told me that the Housing Finance Agency was meeting just once a month. Completed buildings are sitting empty in the middle of a housing crisis, yet there does not seem to be a sense of urgency in the Department. Housing is not the Minister's Department, but as Minister for Finance, will he be increasing the number of times the agency meets in order to show people that we are serious about tackling this crisis and show investors that Ireland can be trusted? In Dublin Bay North, I regularly hear from first-time buyers who are doing their best to secure a home close to work. However, many new builds in the area now fall out of the existing eligibility cap, making this scheme inaccessible to those it was designed to support. These people are not high earners or looking for luxury properties. They are ordinary people being priced out by rising market values. Will there be a threshold change to the scheme?

Sentiment score: 0.08

I thank the Minister for his answer. It is exactly that - the board is meeting once a month. Developers and investors are seeing this. It is holding developers up and adding many costs for them, which they do not like and discourages the building of homes. The scheme is valuable and it is right that it is being retained. I look forward to the budget and seeing what this Government will do. Revision is needed to ensure that the scheme reflects today's market. This includes updating the price gap and ensuring that the rules are clear and consistent. This is an opportunity to make a good scheme more responsive and fair for today's buyers, particularly for the buyers of north Dublin.

Sentiment score: 0.31