Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On the programme for Government, on 6 March this year we discovered through freedom of information requests that the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme, the flagship of the Government’s housing affordability measures, was effectively frozen. Since then, I have repeatedly asked the Minister, Deputy Murphy, about the situation regarding current loan applications. I am sure he is aware of the problem because I and others have received repeated representations from across the country regarding local authorities still not allowing drawdowns of loans and mortgages under the Rebuilding Ireland affordable home loan scheme, in spite of the Minister assuring me that the scheme was open, loans would be honoured and funds could be drawn down. The Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Donohoe is present. The cold hand of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform put a stop to the lending. Has it allocated money this year for additional mortgages to be paid out? What is the status of the scheme? Is it open? Has the Minister, Deputy Murphy, written to local authorities and instructed them to issue the loans in the case of approved mortgage applications?

See this speech in context