Housing Minister pushes for €50,000 Help to Buy tax refund despite finance opposition

In the run-up to Budget 2027, Housing Minister James Browne is pressing for the Help to Buy tax refund to be increased from €30,000 to €50,000 for first-time purchasers of new homes under €500,000. Finance Minister Simon Harris, who says his duty is to follow the Programme for Government and sometimes refuse proposals, has already rejected the suggestion, as have Taoiseach Micheál Martin. Despite the setbacks, Browne intends to lobby for the change in the final two weeks before the budget is finalised and will announce a major public-information drive to raise awareness of Help to Buy, cost-rental and vacant-property grants.

A recent Glenveagh Homes study indicated that about 40% of prospective buyers do not know about the scheme. Harris will also deliver a speech on Ireland’s ageing population and fiscal pressures at the Economic and Social Research Institute.