Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 53: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of people, to date, who have made a full application under the home choice scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10162/09]

Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of full applications for the home choice loan received by his Department; the amount of money set aside for this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10190/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 63 together.

Over 1,400 prospective purchasers have formally registered interest on the dedicated Home Choice website (www.homechoiceloan.ie) and these have been contacted in recent weeks to advise that applications are now being accepted. 12 full applications have been made and a significant number of inquiries have also been received from brokers in relation to applications that may be pending.

Importantly, the intention of the scheme is not to provide an incentive for households to enter the housing market; it is designed rather to facilitate first-time buyers who have decided to purchase a home at this time.