First Home Scheme
The scheme pays up to 30% of the cost of your new home (20% if you also use Help to Buy) and takes an equity share of the same size, which you can buy back later.
Last checked July 2026
What it is
Shared-equity help for first-time buyers of a new home.
Who can get it
- You are a first-time buyer, a first-time self-builder, or a fresh start applicant
- You are buying a new build in a private development, self-building on your own site, or buying the home you currently rent (the tenant home purchase option)
- The home is in the Republic of Ireland and within the price ceiling set for that area
- The scheme takes an equity share of your home equal to the percentage it puts in, so it owns a slice of the home until you buy that share back.
- A service charge builds up on the scheme's share over time, so it is not free money in the long run.
- Price ceilings vary by area, so what qualifies in one county may not in another. Check the ceiling for where you are buying.
- You can combine it with the Help to Buy scheme, but then the First Home share is capped at 20%.
How to apply
Applications go through First Home Scheme. The official page has the full eligibility rules and the application itself.
Go to the official page →Checked against the official source on 1 July 2026. Always confirm the details on the official page before applying.
Questions people ask
How much does the First Home Scheme give?
Up to 30% of the purchase price or build cost, or up to 20% if you are also using the Help to Buy scheme. In return the scheme takes an equity share of the same size in your home.
Who can use the First Home Scheme?
First-time buyers, first-time self-builders, and fresh start applicants, for example people who have been through divorce, separation or insolvency and no longer own a home.
What can I buy with it?
A new build in a private development, a self-build on your own site, or the home you currently rent. It is available anywhere in the Republic of Ireland, within the price ceiling set for that area.
Is there a cost to the equity share?
You can buy back the scheme's share at any time. A service charge builds up on the share over the years, so it is worth planning to buy it back when you can.
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