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Help to Buy Scheme
What Is the Help to Buy Scheme?
The Help to Buy (HTB) Scheme assists first-time buyers to purchase a newly-built house or apartment. It is also available for once-off self-build homes.
It only applies to properties that cost €500,000 or less.
The HTB Scheme gives a refund of the income tax and Deposit Interest Retention Tax (DIRT) you have paid in Ireland over the previous 4 tax years.
How do I qualify?
To qualify, you must:
Be a first-time buyer. If you are buying (or self-building) the property with someone else, they must also be a first-time buyer.
Buy or self-build a new residential property between 19 July 2016 and 31 December 2022.
Take out a mortgage of at least 70% of the purchase price. Cash buyers do not qualify.
Live in the property for 5 years from the date that it is habitable. HTB is not available for investment properties.
Be fully tax-compliant for the 4 years immediately before your claim.
What do I get?
If you sign a contract for a new house, or draw down on a self-build mortgage, between 23 July 2020 and 31 December 2022, you can get an increased relief. This is known as the Enhanced Help to Buy Scheme. You can claim relief on the lesser of:
€30,000
10% of the purchase price of the property
10% of the completion value of a self-build
The amount of income tax and DIRT you paid for the previous 4 years
The maximum payment is €30,000.
How can I apply?
There are 3 stages to the online application process:
The application stage: If you are a PAYE employee only, you can apply for the HTB Scheme through Revenue’s MyAccount service. Or, if you are a self-assessed taxpayer, you can apply through Revenue’s Online Service (ROS).
The claim stage: Once your application is approved you can make your claim using ROS or MyAccount. You will need to provide documents about your mortgage and confirm details about the property at this stage.
The verification stage: The information you have provided is verified by an eligible verifier. This is the contractor if you are buying a new home, or your solicitor if you are building your home.
How do I get the refund?
If you buy a new build, the refund is paid directly to the builder. If you self-build the property, the refund is paid to a bank account you hold with your loan provider.
Read more about the Help to Buy Scheme on https://bit.ly/3O2jdxF .
If you need further information about any of the issues raised here or you have other questions, you can call a member of the local Citizens Information Service in Kerry on 0818 07 7860. They will be happy to assist you and if necessary arrange an appointment for you.
Kerry HELPLINE 0818 07 7860
Monday to Friday from 10am -4pm. Alternatively you can email on tralee@citinfo.ie or log on to www.citizensinformation.ie
The National Phone Service is available on 0818 07 4000 Monday to Friday 9am – 8pm.
KWD Recycling shortlisted for national environmental awards
Killarney-based KWD Recycling has been announced as a finalist in the 2026 Repak Resource Awards, securing a spot on the national shortlist for environmental achievement.
The local waste management company has been nominated in the Best Recovery Operator Innovation category, sponsored by DNV, for its state-of-the-art residual waste recovery system.
The Killarney facility utilizes optical sorting, screening, and mechanical processing to extract recyclable plastics and organic material from municipal waste. In its first year of operation, the technology recovered more than 10 per cent of plastic packaging from residual waste for recycling and diverted almost 50 per cent of organic material toward composting.
KWD Recycling will compete alongside Dublin operators Panda and Thorntons Recycling for the category title.
Repak CEO Zoe Kavanagh commended the Kerry firm for demonstrating environmental leadership and bringing local ambition to the national awards.
Category winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony at the Mansion House in Dublin on Friday, October 23, where each winner will also compete for the Overall Repak Resource Award.
Local businesses have a strong track record at the national event, with Killarney town venue The Killarney Park and The Ross previously taking home the overall title in 2023.
Drivers warned as deer rutting season begins
Motorists in Killarney are being urged to exercise extreme caution as the annual deer rutting season gets underway, causing animals to stray far beyond their usual habitats inside Killarney National Park.
The autumn mating season sees deer becoming highly active and unpredictable, leading to increased sightings and collisions on local roads outside traditional park boundaries.
Two separate incidents highlighted the growing hazard on local routes this week. A reader contacted the Killarney Advertiser to warn drivers after spotting a deer roaming near Tiernaboul towards the school on Sunday afternoon around 7.30pm.
Later that same night, in the early hours of Monday morning, a local driver collided with a deer near Kerry Airport around 1am while returning home from an event.
Despite attempting evasive action, the motorist struck the animal, which died at the scene and temporarily blocked the road before local Gardaí were alerted to clear the obstruction.
The driver sustained substantial vehicle damage, requiring repairs to the bumper, headlamp, and internal components, leaving her facing significant garage costs and time off the road.
Gardaí and road safety advocates advise motorists travelLing during early morning and late evening and remain vigilant along tree-lined routes.
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