Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2018
697. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the rights of appeal that exist to Rebuilding Ireland home loan decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50297/18]
View answerThe Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan was introduced on 1 February 2018 under the Housing (Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan) Regulations 2018. The Scheme enables local authorities to provide home loans in accordance with the criteria set out in the Regulations and the Statutory Credit Policy. The Housing Agency has been tasked with carrying out assessments of loan applications on behalf of local authorities and making recommendations in respect of each application
Under the Regulations it is a matter for each local authority to make the decision on loan approval applications. Under the Statutory Credit Policy each authority must establish a Credit Committee to consider these applications on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the Statutory Credit Policy and having regard to the recommendations of the Housing Agency.
The Statutory Credit Policy also obliges local authorities to establish an appeals process under which applicants, who are dissatisfied with a decision of a Credit Committee, may appeal that decision. Details of the appeals process can be obtained from the relevant local authority.
Following the conclusion of the local authority's appeals process, if a loan applicant remains dissatisfied with the outcome and considers that they have been treated unfairly, then they can request that the Office of the Ombudsman examines the case. The Ombudsman can examine complaints about the actions of a range of public bodies, and local authority house loans are among the areas that they are permitted to examine.
