Help to Buy rises to €35,000 but second-hand stamp duty relief is dropped at the last hour
Help to Buy is raised from €30,000 to €35,000 for first-time buyers of new homes (Irish Examiner, TheJournal, Irish Times, Raisin). Stamp duty relief for first-time buyers of second-hand homes was dropped at the last hour. Harris said the effect on house prices would be "negligible". The rent tax credit rises by €150 to €1,150 for singles and €2,300 for couples from January. Raisin also reports a Personal Investment Account planned from July 2027.
Housing is the biggest cost for young people. A bigger grant raises demand as well as helping buyers, which is why economists argue about its effect on prices.
If you are buying a new home, up to €5,000 more could be available. If you rent, the credit is worth €150 more a year than before.
Supporters say the grant helps people reach a deposit in an expensive market.
Critics say it pushes up prices, favours higher earners and does not add homes.
Harris himself says the price effect is small. The real test of housing policy is how many homes are built, and the budget changed little on that.
DailyDrop Ireland edition No. 3 · Morning · WED., OCT. 7, 2026