Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 June 2022
37. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if instructions to pause the consideration of local authority home loan applications have been issued to Donegal County Council by his Department due to the MICA issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32903/22]
View answerThe Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL).
The scheme remains open in Donegal County Council and applications should continue to be received and processed up to and including loan drawdowns. I can confirm there have been no instructions issued from my Department to pause the Local Authority Home Loan scheme in Donegal County Council.
The final decision on loan approval is a matter for each local authority and its Credit Committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the Regulations establishing the scheme and the credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authority.
