Fiona O'Loughlin
Question:1370. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if the case of a person (details supplied) will be examined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36278/18]
View answerFriday, 7 September 2018
Questions (1370)
Written answers
Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 specifically provides that the Minister's power to issue policy directions and guidelines to housing authorities in relation to their housing functions should not be construed as enabling the Minister to exercise any power or control in relation to any individual case with which a housing authority is or may be concerned. Therefore, I am precluded from intervening in relation to individual cases.
Appeals for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan are not dealt with by my Department. A decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its credit committee to decide on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the statutory credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure consistency of treatment for all applicants. Under the policy, each local authority must establish an appeal mechanism for cases where applicants are not satisfied with the decision regarding their application. All appeals must be sent into the local authority that applicants applied to. Details of the appeals process can be obtained from the relevant local authority. The person concerned should therefore contact the local authority to which the loan application was made for an update in relation to the appeal.