James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1355. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a person who has exited bankruptcy may be considered a first-time buyer for the purposes of a Rebuilding Ireland mortgage application; if he is satisfied with this position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12809/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Applicants for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan must be of good credit standing and have a satisfactory credit record. The Housing Agency provides a central credit assessment service to local authorities and credit checks are undertaken as part of the credit assessment process. The final decision on loan approval is a matter for the relevant local authority and its credit committee on a case-by-case basis. Decisions on all housing loan applications must be made in accordance with the statutory credit policy, that underpins the scheme, in order to ensure prudence and consistency in approaches in the best interests of both borrowers and the lending local authorities.

A person who has been discharged from bankruptcy and is eligible in all other respects, including being a first-time buyer, for a Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan may apply for a loan and will be subject to the same credit assessment process that applies to all applicants.

As with the previous local authority home loan offerings, the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is available to first time buyers only. This is to ensure the effective targeting of limited resources, and I have no plans to amend this requirement.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1356. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he is restricting Meath County Council from issuing Rebuilding Ireland home loans that have been assessed by the council and the Housing Agency and recommended for approval such as in the case of a person (details supplied). [12824/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is a mortgage scheme for first-time buyers which has been available nationwide through local authorities from 1 February 2018.

When the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was initially being developed, it was estimated that the drawdown of loans under the scheme would be approximately €200 million over three years. The scheme has proven to be far more successful than originally anticipated, and the level of funding issued by local authorities to end January 2019 is approximately €106m, which is ahead of initial estimates for the scheme.

I am currently in discussions with the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform regarding further funding for the scheme. Specific allocations to local authorities for 2019 will be finalised when those discussions have concluded. In the meantime, the scheme remains open and all local authorities should continue to receive and process applications.

With regards to the individual application in question, Section 63(3) of the Local Government Act 2001 provides that, subject to law, a local authority is independent in the performance of its functions. Section 6 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 specifically provides that the Minister's power to issue policy directions and guidelines to housing authorities in relation to their housing functions should not be construed as enabling the Minister to exercise any power or control in relation to any individual case with which a housing authority is or may be concerned. I am, therefore, precluded from intervening in relation to individual cases.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1357. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the local authorities that have been notified that they have reached their limit in loan approvals under the initial allocation of Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme funding; the instructions given to councils regarding pending and new applications; and when he will make an announcement on whether additional funding beyond the initial €200 million will be made available to the scheme. [12825/19]

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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1393. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to ensure that Dublin City Council has sufficient funding to approve applications to the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13184/19]

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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1411. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when funding will recommence for local authorities for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme. [13533/19]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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1414. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when the review of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme will be completed; when funding for 2019 will be allocated; if he will allow flexibility for councils that have spent their budget to grant funding for applications that have already been approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13629/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1357, 1393, 1411 and 1414 together.

The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme was launched in February 2018 to replace the existing local authority mortgage schemes, which were funded through loans that local authorities obtained from the Housing Finance Agency (HFA) for that purpose.

When the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was initially being developed, it was estimated that the drawdown of loans under the scheme would be approximately €200 million over three years. The scheme has proven to be far more successful than originally anticipated, and the level of funding issued by local authorities to end January 2019 is approximately €106m, which is ahead of initial estimates for the scheme.

As a result, to date, a number of local authorities have issued loans to a level which has used up their approved allocations lending for mortgage and home improvement for 2018. Based on the latest information available, these are Fingal County Council, Kildare County Council, Meath County Council, Tipperary County Council, Waterford City & County Council, Wicklow County Council and Wexford County Council. Each local authority is aware of their allocations for housing loans for 2018, and monitors the use of this accordingly.

I am currently in discussions with the Minister for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform regarding further funding for the scheme. Specific allocations to local authorities for 2019 will be finalised when those discussions have concluded. In the meantime, the scheme remains open and all local authorities should continue to receive and process applications.

In relation to the review of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan that I requested be undertaken by my Department in order to assist in the on-going administration of the scheme, it is at an advanced stage and is due to be finalised shortly. In carrying out the review, the Department has consulted with a number of local authorities, the Housing Agency, and the Housing Finance Agency. The review will also have regard to the views raised by public representatives since the scheme's commencement. However, in making any recommendations in relation to the operation of the scheme, it will also take account of the need to ensure that lending issued under it is provided on a prudential basis, so as to protect the financial interests of the borrowers and the local authorities.