Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 September 2018
542. Deputy Jack Chambers asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if visa stamp 4 holders are eligible for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the confusion with regard to the eligibility of visa stamp 4 holders applying for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38737/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL) enables credit-worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties or self-build in a suitable price range. As with the previous local authority loan offerings, the RIHL is available to first-time buyers only, to ensure the effective targeting of limited resources.
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 statutory credit policy that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure consistency of treatment for all applicants. Under that policy, applicants must either be citizens of an EU or EEA country, or have a legal right to remain in the State on a long-term basis.
Loan applicants who are dissatisfied with a loan application decision of a local authority Credit Committee may appeal that decision to the local authority. Details of the appeals process can be obtained from the relevant local authority.
