Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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1043. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of applications that have been received for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; the number of these applications that have been successful and unsuccessful to date respectively; the number that were unsuccessful as a result of income earned through overtime payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12368/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Following a review of the two existing local authority home loan schemes, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, a new loan offering, known as the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, was introduced on 1 February 2018.

As with the previous local authority home loan offerings, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is a local authority product and loan applications are made directly to the local authority in whose area the property proposed for purchase is situated. My Department does not collect information on the number of enquiries to local authorities regarding the loan, the number of complete loan applications received by local authorities, or the reasons as to why a loan application may be declined.

As is currently the case, my Department will continue to publish information on the overall number and value of (1) local authority loan approvals and (2) local authority loan drawdowns on its website at the following link - .  This information is currently updated to end Q3 2017; Q4 data will be published shortly.

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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1044. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if persons who owned a house and have gone through a legal divorce are eligible to apply for a loan under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12397/18]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1046. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are circumstances in which a couple might quality for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan in circumstances in which one of them previously had a mortgage in their name; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12438/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1044 and 1046 together.

Following a review of the two existing local authority home loan schemes, the House Purchase Loan and the Home Choice Loan, a new loan offering, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan, was made available on 1 February 2018. The new loan will enable credit worthy first-time buyers to access sustainable mortgage lending to purchase new or second-hand properties in a suitable price range. The low rate of fixed interest associated with the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan provides first-time buyers with access to mortgage finance that they may not otherwise have been able to afford at a higher interest rate.

As with the previous local authority loan offerings, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available to first-time buyers only. There is no change to this regard. This is to ensure the effective targeting of limited resources. Applicants who are separated or divorced may be treated as first-time buyers if they meet certain conditions, including: 

- they are separated or divorced under a court order or by a separation agreement;

- the property being purchased is the first property since leaving the family home;

- they have left the family home and retain no interest in it; or

- the other party has remained in the family home.

The option currently available for non-first-time buyers is to seek home loan facilities from one of the commercial lending institutions.

Detailed information on the new mortgage is available on the dedicated  website, from the loan helpdesk at 051 349720, or directly from local authorities.