Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1071. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the extent to which Rebuilding Ireland home loans are available now and in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8018/20]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1072. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of persons who have made an application for Rebuilding Ireland home loans; the number granted, refused and pending, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8019/20]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1071 and 1072 together.

The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan (RIHL) was launched on 1 February 2018. When the RIHL was initially being developed, it was estimated that the drawdown of loans under the scheme would be approximately €200 million over three years. The RIHL proved to be more successful than initially anticipated and following discussions with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, an increase in funding of €363.6 million for 2018-2019 was communicated to all 31 local authorities on 15 August 2019. Following further engagement with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, additional funding for new RIHL lending of up to €210 million has been secured for 2020.

It is recognised that current applicants for a Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan may be experiencing difficulties arising out of COVID-19 restrictions, including, for example, accessing financial documents; property visits and valuations; solicitors visits, etc. Therefore, local authorities are being asked to show flexibility when dealing with applicants at all stages of the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan process from application through to approval, drawdown and (where relevant) appeal and should extend the time periods as necessary to accommodate those who may be experiencing difficulties arising out of COVID-19 restrictions. For existing applicants, local authorities are advised to ensure that final loan offers are made based on up to date financial and employment data from applicants, as appropriate, having regard to the implications that COVID-19 has had for many businesses and employers.

My Department publishes information on the overall number and value of (i) local authority loan approvals and (ii) local authority loan drawdowns. Local authority approval means that an official letter of offer has been sent to a borrower (and therefore relates to a specific property and loan amount). My Department does not collect information on the number of applications received, pending or refused.

Information on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan for 2019, including the number and value of mortgage approvals and drawdowns, as well as average loan amounts, are available on my Department's website at the following link:

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This information will be updated on a quarterly basis as additional data is compiled.

Information on the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan for 2018 is also available through this link and can be found under local authority loans approved and local authority loans paid. However these figures are not detailed by loan type.