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Know Your Rights: Local Authority home loans

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Question: I want to buy a house, but can’t get a mortgage with the bank. What other options do I have for finance?

Answer: You may be able to get a local authority home loan to buy a home if you’ve been unable to get the funds you need from a bank.

The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government-backed mortgage with reduced interest rates. The interest rates are fixed for the full term of the loan, so you have the same repayments for the lifetime of the loan. You can use the loan for new or second-hand properties, or to build a home.

How do I qualify for the loan?

To get this loan, your income must be below a certain level and you must have been in continuous employment for a set amount of time. You must also meet some other criteria.

You must:

Be a first-time buyer or ‘fresh start’ applicant
Be aged between 18 and 70
Have proof that you haven’t been able to get the mortgage funding you need from two banks or building societies
Have a deposit
Have a satisfactory credit rating
Live in the property once you have bought or built it

What is the maximum market value of a property for this loan?

The home you are buying or building must be below a certain market value (price). The maximum market value of the property depends on where the property is located.

€320,000 in Cork, Dublin, Galway, Kildare, Louth, Meath and Wicklow
€250,000 in the rest of the country

You can borrow up to 90% of the market value of the property and you may be able to get the Help to Buy incentive to help with your deposit.

What are the interest rates?

The interest rates are fixed for the full term of the mortgage and are currently:

2.495% for up to 25 years
2.745% for up to 30 years

You apply to your local authority for the Local Authority Home Loan.

Read more about the Local Authority Home Loans on citizensinformation.ie or phone Kerry Citizens Information Service 0818 07 7860 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm), the national phone service on 0818 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm), or log on to www.citizensinformation.ie.

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Glamour and glitz for St Brendan’s College Debs

Glamour and glitz were the order of the day as students from St Brendan’s College cut a dash at their annual Debs ball on Monday. Students gathered for a stylish […]

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Glamour and glitz were the order of the day as students from St Brendan’s College cut a dash at their annual Debs ball on Monday.

Students gathered for a stylish pre-debs reception at St Brigid’s before being whisked off to the Ballyroe Heights Hotel in Tralee, where celebrations continued long into the night.
As much a coming-of-age celebration as the end of an era, the occasion marked the students’ final act together following six years at the town centre college.
With Leaving Certificate results looming, the Class of 2026 now prepares to take their next steps, whether heading off to third-level education, beginning apprenticeships, or entering the workforce. Whatever path they choose, we wish them the very best in all their future endeavours.
Photos: Michelle Cooper Galvin

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Kilcummin man opens New Zealand pub

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Kilcummin man opens New Zealand pub


A Kilcummin native living in New Zealand is appealing to the Kerry community for genuine local memorabilia to decorate his new Irish pub and deli on the other side of the world.


Cian Curtin and his wife are currently fitting out The Snug, a new venture located in New Brighton, a seaside suburb of Christchurch. By day, the venue will operate as a deli serving Irish staples such as breakfast rolls, chicken fillet rolls, home-made soda bread, and fresh milk. In the evenings, it will transform into a traditional neighbourhood pub featuring Irish food, drink, and live music.
Determined to create an authentic atmosphere rather than relying on generic decorations, Cian is calling on Kerry locals, businesses, and sports clubs to send over items with a real story behind them.
“Being from Kilcummin, there’ll naturally be plenty of Kerry influence around the place. One thing that’s particularly important to me is that the pub doesn’t end up filled with generic, newly made ‘Irish pub’ decorations. I’d much rather fill the walls gradually with genuine pieces from home that have a bit of history and a story behind them. If any local pubs, clubs, businesses or readers had an old sign, photograph, jersey, bar piece or other bit of Kerry memorabilia gathering dust that they thought deserved a new home on the other side of the world, I’d absolutely love to hear from them.”
If you can help email: thesnugirishbar@gmail.com

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