Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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648. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason the Rebuilding Ireland home loan does not accept carer's allowance as income when accessing applicants for same. [5050/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is not, as a general rule, available to those in receipt of unemployment or other social welfare benefits. However, where there is a joint application and the primary income is of a waged or salaried nature, long-term State benefit payments may be considered. State benefit payments allowable are:

- State Pension (Contributory);

- State pension (Non-Contributory);

- Widow’s / Widower’s Pension;

- Blind Pension;

- Invalidity Pension;

- Disability Allowance.

The reason these payments are considered as assessable income for the scheme is that they are long-term payments. The inclusion of other social welfare payments, which are more short-term, would not be appropriate in determining a person’s capacity to repay a loan over a period of up to 30 years as is the case with the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.

The long-term nature of the payment must be confirmed by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. All applications are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and are referred to the relevant local authority's Credit Committee for a final decision.