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

I would rather if the Minister came here today and said he does not know what is happening. That is basically what he has been saying in recent weeks. He says he is discussing it with the Departments of Finance, and Public Expenditure and Reform. He is saying there is no change to the scheme and that nobody is affected. That is all nonsense and untrue. Thousands of people do not know what is happening with their mortgage applications. Local authorities such as Kildare County Council and others are not granting or approving loans because they have not got their allocations for 2019.

I remind the Minister that we are now in June 2019. We found out about this through a freedom of information request and not through any response the Minister gave in the House. It had to be dragged out of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. Since March or April the Minister has come into the House and talked nonsense about the issue. He is saying it is being discussed and that it is going to be resolved very soon. It is the same answer he gave me six weeks ago and it is not acceptable. Obviously, either he does not know what is going on or he is not willing to tell the House what is happening. When will the allocation be given? Will the Department of Finance give approval for the continuation of the Rebuilding Ireland affordable loan or not?

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