Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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679. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reason income from the working family payment is not taken into account as reckonable income under the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22074/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan is operated in accordance with the Housing (Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan) Regulations 2018 and the credit policy issued in accordance with the Regulations, which set out the criteria under which an applicant may be eligible for a loan. The credit policy states that as a general rule, the loan is not available to those in receipt of unemployment or other social welfare benefits. However, where there is a primary income of a waged or salary nature, long-term State benefit payments of the second applicant may be considered.  State benefit payments allowable are: 

- State Pension (Contributory);

- State pension (Non-Contributory);

- Widow’s / Widower’s Pension;

- Blind Pension;

- Invalidity Pension; and

- Disability Allowance.

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.

As the payment referred to by the Deputy does not fall within this category of long-term payment it is not reckonable for the purpose of the scheme.