Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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66. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department is still working with the Department of Finance on the HBFI loan scheme; if updates can be given about the scheme with regard to the input of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24029/19]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Home Building Finance Ireland comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Finance.

HBFI was established in December 2018 to lend to small and medium sized builders and developers for commercially viable residential developments, particularly those situated outside the State's major urban centres. HBFI has been provided with access to €750 million of funding from the Irish Strategic Investment Fund, which is expected to facilitate the delivery of 7,500 units over the next five years.

Since its formal launch, I understand that HBFI has engaged actively with small and medium sized builders and developers. HBFI has already approved a number of separate loan facilities and drawdown of funds relating to the first approvals is expected to take place shortly. HBFI has also briefed officials in my Department in relation to the scheme and information in relation to the scheme is available at .

I understand that HBFI intends to publish information on its lending activities on a half-yearly basis, with the first such report to be published in July covering the period to the end of June 2019. Further information in this regard may be available from my colleague, the Minister for Finance.