House purchase loan approvals for each local authority area in 2009 are set out in the following table. Data for 2010 are being compiled at present. Data for 2011 are not yet available.
|
Local Authority
|
Total Loans Approved
|
|
County Councils
|
|
|
Carlow
|
8
|
|
Cavan
|
5
|
|
Clare
|
10
|
|
Cork
|
32
|
|
Donegal
|
30
|
|
DL/Rathdown
|
5
|
|
Fingal
|
36
|
|
Galway
|
4
|
|
Kerry
|
5
|
|
Kildare
|
1
|
|
Kilkenny
|
17
|
|
Laois
|
66
|
|
Leitrim
|
3
|
|
Limerick
|
3
|
|
Longford
|
8
|
|
Louth
|
0
|
|
Mayo
|
43
|
|
Meath
|
21
|
|
Monaghan
|
0
|
|
North Tipperary
|
5
|
|
Offaly
|
0
|
|
Roscommon
|
3
|
|
Sligo
|
4
|
|
South Dublin
|
240
|
|
South Tipperary
|
3
|
|
Waterford
|
9
|
|
Westmeath
|
5
|
|
Wexford
|
9
|
|
Wicklow
|
6
|
|
|
|
City Councils
|
|
|
Cork
|
24
|
|
Dublin
|
158
|
|
Galway
|
0
|
|
Limerick
|
9
|
|
Waterford
|
14
|
|
|
|
Borough Councils
|
|
|
Clonmel
|
0
|
|
Drogheda
|
3
|
|
Kilkenny
|
0
|
|
Sligo
|
3
|
|
Wexford
|
0
|
|
|
|
Town Councils
|
|
|
Athlone
|
0
|
|
Bray
|
0
|
|
Dundalk
|
3
|
|
Total
|
795
|
All local authority mortgage lending operates under the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2009 and associated credit policy. These set out a maximum loan limit of €220,000 and a maximum term of 30 years.
I believe that the current regime is appropriately targeted and facilitates rather than incentivises house purchase by eligible, credit worthy first time buyers. The existing criteria are fair and adequately meet the needs of prospective borrowers, while also protecting the financial position of local authorities by adhering to prudent lending practices.
