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Know Your Rights: Local Authority home loans
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.
Samhain Chiarraí returns top to streets this autumn
Killarney will take centre stage for major spectacles and cultural highlights as Samhain Chiarraí returns from October 15 to November 1.
The immersive county-wide festival celebrates the ancient Celtic turning of the year through fire, folklore, music, and street art.
The festival kicks off in Killarney with the Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) running from October 15 to 18. Based in the town, KIFF will host feature films, documentaries, shorts, and the Kerry premiere of The Biddys documentary.
Killarney will also host the signature An Cailleach Chiarraí celebrations from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, October 25.
The town will host a specially commissioned street performance inspired by An Cailleach Chiarra, the ancient Goddess of Winter, curated by West Kerry street arts company MÓTU.
Award-winning storyteller Aindrias de Staic will bring his unique blend of folklore and performance, alongside the return of the popular Fire Rituals, Super Céilí, and a full schedule of family-friendly workshops and interactive events.
Meanwhile, after lighting up Killarney, the signature Cailleach Chiarraí street spectacles and fire rituals move to Tralee from Friday, October 30 to Sunday, November 1.
The Samhain Chiarraí festival spans the autumn mid-term break, bookended by the Dingle Food Festival and Listowel Food Festival. It also supports local community initiatives across Kerry, including Féile Éile in Killorglin and the Patrick O’Keeffe Festival in Castleisland.
Declan Murphy of Fáilte Ireland noted that Samhain Chiarraí is a fantastic example of how authentic local culture can create compelling visitor experiences. As part of Ireland’s Home of Halloween programme, the festival showcases Kerry’s unique heritage through storytelling, performance, and community participation.
Full programme details will be announced in the coming weeks at <-block _nghost-ng-c78555923=”” class=”ng-star-inserted”>discoverkerry.com/SamhainChiarrai.
No firm timeframe for St Finan’s masterplan
There is still no guaranteed timeline for the redevelopment of the St Finan’s site in Killarney, despite ongoing work between Kerry County Council, the HSE, and the Land Development Agency (LDA).
The issue was raised at a recent Killarney Municipal District meeting by Councillor Maura Healy-Rae, who asked the council for an update on its engagement with the Department of Housing, the LDA, and the HSE regarding the future of the prominent landbank.
Responding to the query, a senior council official confirmed that while Kerry County Council, the HSE, and the LDA are jointly developing a masterplan and infrastructure delivery strategy for the site, progress remains contingent on support.
The official stated that a funding application has been submitted to progress the masterplan and that background work is currently ongoing.
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