Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
925. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he will issue guidance to local authorities to outline in clear terms the forms of mortgage protection insurance that should be acceptable for applicants to the Rebuilding Ireland programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12583/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe local authority mortgage protection insurance (MPI) scheme has applied to all house purchase loans approved by local authorities after 1 July 1986, including the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan introduced on 1 February 2018. Mortgage protection insurance is charged at the rate of 0.555%.
It is obligatory for all local authority borrowers who meet the eligibility criteria to join the scheme, which is a group policy. Altering this condition would have a negative impact on the scheme and increase the cost for all existing borrowers.
A local authority housing loan applicant who is not eligible for the local authority MPI scheme must source a suitable comparable individual MPI policy from the market. The level of coverage/benefits provided under the alternative MPI should be similar to that available under the Local Authority Group MPI
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.
