Longford Starter Home Scheme: 25 A-Rated Homes at Cúirt an Easpaig With Up to €95,000 in Support

The Scheme at Cúirt an Easpaig

Longford County Council's Starter Home Purchase Scheme at Cúirt an Easpaig, Ballinalee Road, Longford Town, is offering 25 A-rated family homes.

The scheme is designed to close the gap between what households earn and what homes cost, by selling homes below market value. Eligible buyers may get up to €95,000 in support towards their purchase.

Cúirt an Easpaig is within easy reach of the town centre, schools and the Dublin–Sligo rail line, so it suits both local workers and people who commute.

How the Support Works

As with Starter Homes schemes around the country, the council takes an equity share in the home equal to the discount it gives. That share can be bought back over time.

For a young couple or family, up to €95,000 in support can be the difference between being able to buy and continuing to rent. It also reduces the mortgage they need, which makes monthly repayments more manageable.

Income limits and eligibility rules apply. Details and application forms are available from Longford County Council's housing section and website.

Why It Matters in the Midlands

Affordable home ownership is often seen as a Dublin issue, but house prices have risen across the midlands too, as more people move out of the capital and remote working has become common.

The Cúirt an Easpaig scheme shows councils outside the cities using the same tools to help local families buy their first home.

It also helps keep young families in Longford Town, which in turn supports local schools, sports clubs, shops and the wider community.

A-Rated From Day One

Every home at Cúirt an Easpaig is A-rated. Modern insulation, airtight construction and heat pumps mean these homes cost far less to heat and run than older houses.

For a family taking on a mortgage for the first time, lower energy bills make a real monthly difference. They also mean the home is ready for Ireland's climate targets, with no expensive retrofit needed later.

Affordability Beyond the Purchase Price

The figure of up to €95,000 describes the maximum support available to an eligible purchaser, not an automatic payment to every applicant. The actual affordable price and council equity share depend on the scheme's published terms and the household's circumstances. Buyers still need a deposit, mortgage approval and the capacity to meet legal, insurance and ongoing ownership costs. Longford County Council's application documents are therefore the decisive source for anyone considering a home at Cúirt an Easpaig.

The A rating matters because affordability continues after a buyer receives the keys. A well-insulated home with modern heating should require less energy than an older property of similar size, reducing exposure to high bills and avoiding the need for an early major retrofit. Buyers should still examine the building specification and learn how to operate heating and ventilation correctly. Efficient homes perform best when residents understand their controls, and clear handover information is an important part of delivering the promised benefit.

Twenty-five homes will not meet every need in Longford, but a defined, completed scheme can have an effect beyond its size. It gives local first-time buyers another option, keeps public equity invested in affordability and demonstrates demand for future phases. The location near town services also supports a pattern of growth that uses existing schools, shops and transport. The meaningful outcomes will be eligible households completing purchases and the homes remaining affordable and well maintained after the initial launch has passed.

The September update builds on a scheme first launched by Longford County Council in February 2026, rather than marking its original launch. The 25-home mix consists of five two-bedroom terraced houses, eight three-bedroom terraced houses and 12 three-bedroom semi-detached houses. The council's later promotion included a new digital brochure and plans for its housing team to attend the PTSB Ideal Home Show in October. Key handovers are scheduled to begin in June 2027, giving applicants a clearer timeframe for planning a mortgage and move.

Local-authority housing delivery is a chain rather than a single announcement. Land has to be identified, funding approved, designs completed, planning secured, contractors appointed and the finished homes allocated or sold under published rules. A scheme can therefore appear quiet for long periods even while technical work continues behind the scenes. The useful test is whether it has crossed a measurable delivery point: a signed contract, work on site, applications opening or keys being handed over. That is why the stage reached in this project matters more than a broad promise about future supply.

The tenure is important too. Social housing gives households on a council list a secure home linked to need. Starter Homes help eligible purchasers bridge the gap between their mortgage capacity and the market price, with the council retaining an equity share. Cost rental serves households who may not qualify for social housing but cannot comfortably meet private rents. Delivering those options together allows councils and their partners to serve different incomes without treating every housing problem as if it had the same answer.

For residents, quality is measured over decades. Energy performance affects monthly bills; accessible layouts determine whether somebody can remain at home as their needs change; and proximity to schools, shops, healthcare and public transport shapes daily life. The number of homes is the headline, but location, tenure and long-term management decide whether a development becomes a settled neighbourhood. Those are the practical details to watch as each scheme moves from an official announcement to occupied homes.