Minister Browne announces over 20% increase in Starter Homes supports delivered in 2025
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne TD, today announced that more than 17,700 Starter Home supports were delivered last year — an increase of 21% on 2024 and the highest annual total recorded.
The supports enabled thousands of individuals and families across the country to become homeowners, secure long term rental accommodation at below market rates or turn vacant properties into homes.
In total, last year, 17,757 supports were delivered across the Starter Homes Purchase Scheme, the Cost-rental scheme, the First Home Scheme, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Help to Buy Scheme. This represents an increase of 21% compared to the 14,604 supports delivered in 2024. The Government target is 15,000 supports annually, between 2025 and 2030, under the new Housing Action Plan.
Minister Browne said:
“Our new Housing Action Plan, Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030, commits to providing an additional 15,000 Starter Home supports annually to 2030, equating to 90,000 supports over the period of the plan. These supports will allow thousands of people to realise their ambition of homeownership and ensure that those who wish to rent can do so at affordable prices.”
“These figures demonstrate the impact of sustained investment and this Government’s commitment to expanding housing options for people across the country. We are making home ownership accessible and affordable, we are getting people into long-term, high quality and affordable rental homes, and we are regenerating old and previously vacant and derelict properties into new homes for the new century.
“Combined with last year’s record delivery of new build social homes, these figures clearly show that we now have real momentum and that progress is accelerating. I am confident that this trajectory will continue throughout 2026.”
Starter Homes Purchase Scheme
Under the Starter Homes Purchase Scheme (previously the Local Authority Affordable Purchase Scheme homes), newly built homes are offered for sale at below market rates for first-time buyers or fresh starters.
Last year, 935 new homes were delivered, representing a year-on-year increase of over 20%.
This delivery takes the total number of starter homes for purchasers delivered to date to over 2,500, with further significant delivery due to come online over the lifetime of the new Housing Plan.
Cost-rental homes
Cost-rental provides long-term, secure rental properties at rents which are at least 25% below market rates.
During 2025 alone, 43 cost-rental projects were approved which will deliver more than 3,300 cost-rental units by 2029
First Home Scheme
The First Home Scheme, which helps bridge the gap between your deposit, mortgage, and the cost of your new home, also saw a strong increase in activity in 2025 with a total of 1,835 drawdowns nationally. Just under 3,000 approvals were granted under the scheme over the same period.
Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant
The level of Vacant Property Refurbishment Grants paid in 2025 also increased significantly, with 3,065 grants paid representing a more than doubling of grants paid compared to 2024. This represents considerable progress in returning old housing stock into use, while at the same time tackling dereliction and vacancy.
ENDS