Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2018
688. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to delays in processing and granting loans by Kildare County Council and other local authorities in respect of the Rebuilding Ireland home loans; the reason for these delays; the way in which the waiting times from application to granting of funds will be reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50109/18]
View answer690. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of local authorities negotiating with his Department for a release of further funding for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; the number of local authorities that exhausted their allocation of funding for the scheme for 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50111/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 688 and 690 together.
The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan Scheme has proved to be very successful and the take-up of the Scheme in some local authority areas has been greater than was originally envisaged. As a result 10 local authorities, including Kildare County Council have sought increases to their allocations for loan approval. Further funds were allocated to 9 of those authorities (including Kildare), for this purpose last month. The application by the remaining authority is being examined currently by my Department.
Kildare County Council has also raised a number of issues concerning the administration of the scheme, and my Department is in discussions with that authority on these matters.
The final decision on all loans rest with each local authority's credit committee, and this decision must be made in accordance with the regulations and credit policy, having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency's assessment of the loan application.
