Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2018
640. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason persons (details supplied) could be refused a Rebuilding Ireland home loan on the grounds of failing to demonstrate criteria; if an appeal made against the decision will be upheld; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47744/18]
View answerThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, was introduced on 1 February 2018 under the Housing (Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan) Regulations 2018. The Scheme enables local authorities to provide home loans in accordance with the criteria set out in the Regulations and the Statutory Credit Policy issued in accordance with them. The Housing Agency has been given the task of carrying out assessments of the loan applications on behalf of the authorities and making recommendations in respect of each application.
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.
Under the Regulations it is a matter for each local authority to make the decision on loan approval applications. Under the Statutory Credit Policy each authority must establish a Credit Committee to consider these applications on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the Statutory Credit Policy and having regard to the recommendations of the Housing Agency.
The Statutory Credit Policy also obliges local authorities to establish an appeals process to which applicants, who are dissatisfied with a decision of a Credit Committee, may appeal that decision. It is therefore open to the persons referred to by the Deputy to make such an appeal. Details of the appeals process can be obtained from the relevant local authority.
