Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if the family income supplement, which is taken into account for the income threshold regarding eligibility on the local authority housing list, will also be taken into account in the calculation for persons who wish to get a loan from the local authority to purchase a house. [23390/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Provisions governing mortgage lending by local authorities are set out under the Housing (Local Authority Loans) Regulations 2009 and associated credit policy. To ensure effective targeting of resources, loan finance continues to be available to first time buyers only. Income limits are also in place, distinguishing between single and dual income households and a maximum loan limit is applied. In assessing loan applications local authorities take account of the household's ability to finance the loan based on their net household income. While, as a general rule, the credit policy provides that loans are not available to those in receipt of unemployment/social welfare benefits, an exception may be made where there is a primary income of a permanent waged/salaried nature, and where the secondary income is from the Department of Social Protection. In such cases long term social welfare payments can be considered, provided the long term nature of the payment is confirmed. The final decision on whether to grant/refuse an applicant lies solely with the relevant local authority. All local authorities must satisfy themselves on the financial risk they are undertaking. These provisions apply for purposes of mortgage lending by all local authorities.