Savvy first-time buyers are managing to knock up to €100,000 off what they have to borrow for new homes by combining two State support schemes.

Buyers who avail of both the new First Home shared equity scheme, along with the Help-To-Buy tax refund are managing to buy €320,000 homes with mortgages of just €240,000.

One commentator said this was acting like “rocket fuel” to propel people onto the property market. But it may also be fuelling continued rising house prices.

The €400m First Home Scheme was launched last July and provided funding for first-time buyers, people who have been divorced, and those who have been declared insolvent to buy a new home.