Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am not waiting for the fund to run out, which is why I have had this early engagement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to get a second tranche of funds. I engaged early on that basis, noting that the first tranche has not even been drawn down yet. Local authorities are also not waiting and that is why the circular was issued and contacts have been made.

The additional money is significant. I hope it will be finalised this week, but I need to be prudent with the public finances and I also need to be prudent with how the local authorities manage their finances. That is why we are taking care and time with this, as is appropriate. It is not impacting on local authorities approving loans. Today we are publishing details of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan approvals and drawdowns by each local authority in the first quarter of this year. This continues to be in operation. Local authorities do not need to wait for me to announce this figure. They are not waiting for additional allocations because they have been told to process and approve loans and let them go to drawdown. The data published today will show that has been happening. We will announce a further amount of money that will allow the scheme to continue because it has proved to be so successful.

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