Yes, it does seem unfair that you lose your FTB status because your girlfriend has bought before, but she may well have made money on her previous purchase so there is a positive side to it as well. When myself and my husband bought in Dublin we were exempt from stamp dauty as the house we bought was below the size where stamp duty became applicable. But we didn't claim the FTB grant that was available at the time because I had bought before. That grant was fairly substantial at the time but the profit I'd made well outweighed the grant and I knew I'd wouldn't have to worry about Revenue catching up with me.
One other thing - I don't think your plan is all that great from your girlfriend's point of view. It might all be rosy now and you can't imagine falling out in the future but she will not be in a good position in the future if the unthinkable happened.
One other thing - I don't think your plan is all that great from your girlfriend's point of view. It might all be rosy now and you can't imagine falling out in the future but she will not be in a good position in the future if the unthinkable happened.