Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for raising it. We will engage on it.

On Deputy Casey's question, I confirm there is no trend. He asked about Home Building Finance Ireland and the funding of €750 million. The institution can actually recycle that sum as loans are repaid to it. I had a discussion on this yesterday. A significant number of applications have already been made even though the scheme has been open for only a few weeks. We brought about Home Building Finance Ireland because we saw a gap in the market in terms of finance. It will lend on commercial terms to small builders throughout the country who are building starter homes. The number of applications looks quite positive. We want the body to lend, and I have been quite clear that local authorities should make local builders aware of it. There is a roadshow about to commence with the Construction Industry Federation to get the word out that the bank is open and seeking to do business. This is good.

On Deputy Barry's question, all I can say is that the memo is not a housing memo. I cannot tell the Deputy what is in it because I have not seen the memo. I have not seen the document the Deputy is referring to so I cannot say whether I have seen it or not. The Deputy asked his question with a degree of suspicion, which I believe is really unwarranted. I do not understand what his point was. I have not seen the document so I cannot say whether I have seen the document the Deputy has in his hand.

I have a number of specific responses on Deputy Boyd Barrett's lengthy intervention. Cost rental will happen in Dún Laoghaire. LIHAF is happening in Dún Laoghaire. That will introduce both cost reductions and also affordable homes.