Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2019
648. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the reason the Rebuilding Ireland home loan does not accept carer's allowance as income when accessing applicants for same. [5050/19]
View answerThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is not, as a general rule, available to those in receipt of unemployment or other social welfare benefits. However, where there is a joint application and the primary income is of a waged or salaried nature, long-term State benefit payments may be considered. State benefit payments allowable are:
- State Pension (Contributory);
- State pension (Non-Contributory);
- Widow’s / Widower’s Pension;
- Blind Pension;
- Invalidity Pension;
- Disability Allowance.
The reason these payments are considered as assessable income for the scheme is that they are long-term payments. The inclusion of other social welfare payments, which are more short-term, would not be appropriate in determining a person’s capacity to repay a loan over a period of up to 30 years as is the case with the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.
The long-term nature of the payment must be confirmed by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. All applications are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and are referred to the relevant local authority's Credit Committee for a final decision.
