Incentive payments for first-time buyer will apply for new builds only

Incentive payments for first-time buyers to purchase newly built homes will be finalised for the budget.

Housing Minister Simon Coveney confirmed the package for first-time buyers would “not fuel” the existing property market. New buyers will also not get sums to buy second-hand homes, he indicated.

His comments came as he launched a €25m scheme to regenerate the Dolphin Housing flats complex in Dublin.