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

Will the Ceann Comhairle let me answer the question please? Only €140 million has been drawn down from the initial tranche of €200 million of funding that was provided under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan. We have contacted every local authority and said that every approval that has been given will be honoured. We have told them not to wait for an announcement from central Government because there is still funding in the initial tranche, but a second tranche is needed because this scheme has proven to be so successful. Every local authority is meant to be issuing and approving all loans until the point of draw-down. I cannot tell the Deputy why Louth County Council has decided to make this decision about these applications but it is not because it is waiting for any information from us. We have told it that we will honour every loan that is approved.

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