Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

To follow up on that, as the witnesses know - and this relates to the second type of lending - there is a loan scheme in place for individuals on incomes of up to €50,000 and couples on incomes of up to €75,000. The limits are low enough. People are applying to county councils under the scheme and the approval process is very slow. The first approvals have trickled through and people are starting to get these loans. Are the credit unions involved to any degree in this kind of lending? I refer specifically to affordable housing where someone buys a new or second-hand house, often far outside the capital, for perhaps €300,000. If they have got a deposit together, they will seek to borrow €240,000 or €260,000 or a somewhat lower figure in rural areas. The credit unions could have a role in this regard and should be able to make a loan offer to such people. Are they restricted in this regard? The approved housing bodies have better offerings available than they would have if they went through the credit unions, if the witnesses do not mind me saying so.