Revised price ceilings to open the First Home Scheme to more buyers in Westmeath

• A €25,000 increase has been applied to the price ceiling for houses and apartments in Westmeath

• The higher ceilings will bring more homes within the eligible price range for purchase with scheme support.

Changes to the First Home Scheme will enable a greater number of first time buyers in Westmeath to access support in purchasing a home. From January 1, following the latest scheduled twice yearly review, price ceilings in 17 local authority areas, including Westmeath County Council, have increased by €25,000.

That adjustment raises the eligible value of houses (including self builds) and apartments in Westmeath to €375,000, broadening access to the scheme and ensuring that more prospective homeowners can benefit from its supports.

The revised ceilings will allow many prospective buyers who were previously excluded because their preferred homes exceeded the local price limit to now qualify for support under the scheme. The changes may also encourage the supply of additional new homes in areas with low stock of new homes.

Since the launch of the scheme in 2022 up to September 2025, there were 164 First Home Scheme approvals in Westmeath.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, TD, said: “This announcement is good news for people looking to purchase or build a new home in Westmeath. Our new Housing Action Plan, Building Homes, Delivering Communities, recognises home ownership as a core objective. By raising the ceilings under the First Home Scheme, we are giving more first time buyers and other eligible applicants the support they need to secure homes of their own. This is about broadening opportunity and making the ambition of home ownership achievable for many more people.

“A core objective of the scheme is to maximise access to home ownership while avoiding any distortion of local housing markets. The revised ceilings reflect current market conditions and ensure the scheme continues to support buyers effectively and responsibly.”

The €740 million scheme provides financial support to borrowers and facilitates them in purchasing new homes (or building their own homes) that they could not otherwise do after combining their available mortgage and deposit.

By bridging the gap between the available mortgage, deposit and the price of the new home, the scheme will make the prospect of home ownership possible for many for the first time.

Since the launch of the scheme up to Q3 2025, 8,399 buyers in the 26 counties have been approved by the scheme. The First Home Scheme has provided more than €273m in support to people who have bought or self-built their homes.

More information at firsthomescheme.ie.