Michael Dowling: Purchasing first home could be back within financial reach

The First Home Scheme has revolutionised the ability of households on modest incomes to acquire a new property

If more purchasers were aware of the First Home Scheme, the number of applicants would increase significantly. 

Amid the ongoing debate about the level of income a family needs to buy a family home, the latest figures from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland suggest that a household would need an income of €127,000 to buy in Dublin, and would require an income of €85,000 in the North West. 

However, when you take into account the interventions that are available from the Government, the picture is somewhat different.