Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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156. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the duration of time it takes the underwriter of the Housing Agency to adjudicate on loans can be reduced as it can hamper timely options for first-time buyers. [29796/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing Agency provides a central support service which assesses applications for the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan on behalf of local authorities and makes recommendations to the authorities to approve or refuse applications.

I have asked the Agency to confirm the average turnaround time for applications to be assessed. The average turnaround time (from date received to date returned with recommendation) for applications to be assessed by the Housing Agency in September 2020 was 3 working days. However, some applications may take longer to assess due to the need to verify aspects of the application etc.

Each local authority must have in place a Credit Committee and it is a matter for the Committee to make the final decision on applications for loans, in accordance with the regulations, and having regard to the recommendations made by the Housing Agency.