Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will urgently examine the need to install a robust local authority housing loan system, similar to that available in the 1980s, with the objective of ensuring that persons who do not qualify for local authority housing on income grounds can at least apply for a loan to buy or construct their own houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25146/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are currently two housing loan finance offerings available from local authorities for first time buyers unable to get adequate loan finance from a building society or bank.  When the loan products, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, were introduced, careful attention was given to the terms and conditions that should be applied to them. Decisions on all loan applications must be made in accordance with the applicable statutory Credit Policy in order to ensure lending prudence and to assist local authorities across the sector to engage consistently in responsible mortgage lending, in the best interests of borrowers and local authorities as lenders alike.  

Information on the number of local authority loans approved and issued is available on my Department's website

I am currently examining the Home Choice Loan scheme and am also considering how local authority mortgages can be better publicised to ensure that creditworthy households who may be unable to source adequate loan finance from commercial lenders but could be eligible for one of the local authority mortgages, are made aware of the opportunity.