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

As I always do. The Minister may remember that last Tuesday I questioned the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, on the Rebuilding Ireland affordable loan. Work that Fianna Fáil has done since March of this year has highlighted the fact that this scheme is underfunded and requires additional funding.

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In response to me on Tuesday, the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, basically said local authorities are still issuing loans and allowing loans to be drawn down, but they are not. My colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, has received written confirmation from Kildare County Council that it is not issuing loans. I know that is true for others and that application forms are being returned. It is a really serious situation for thousands of mainly young people and potential first-time buyers who are trying to access this product. Either the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is knowingly misleading the House or he just does not know.

I ask the Minister, Deputy Bruton, as a senior member of Cabinet, when the additional allocation will be given to the local authorities and how much that will be. I know some of the Minister's colleagues have proven not to be great at maths in recent months.

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