‘Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan fails to deliver for Donegal’ – Pringle TD

written by Rachel McLaughlin September 20, 2018

Just 12 applications to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme were recommended for approval by Donegal County Council this year, according to figures revealed by Donegal TD Thomas Pringle. 

Twenty three people in the county applied to the new Government-backed mortgage scheme up to August 2018. Three applicants were deemed invalid and 8 were refused. Twelve were put forward for approval but it is not known if they were secured.

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The Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan scheme was introduced last year to enable people to obtain loans to purchase a home as long as they met a strict criteria and have been refused mortgages from banks multiple times.

Donegal TD Thomas Pringle said the local application figures ‘make for dismal reading’ and indicate the criteria is too restrictive.

Deputy Pringle said: “Despite Donegal being a rural constituency people are finding it difficult to obtain mortgages where they currently live and work. A Government-backed scheme is needed to help those who can’t access social housing but who earn too little to afford the house prices at the moment.”

The TD adds that he has met people at his clinics who didn’t bother applying for the local authority loans knowing the criteria were far too restrictive.

Deputy Pringle said: “Security of accommodation is becoming more and more urgent while under Fine Gael’s administration but tenant rights are fast becoming under threat alongside workers’ rights reducing people’s income security. This is against the backdrop of social welfare supports still not at pre-2012 levels since drastic cuts were made by Fine Gael.

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“The situation is getting worse particularly for people on HAP who are coming to me saying landlords are refusing to facilitate HAP recipients. How can we expect people to deal with such volatility?

“We need more Government-backed initiatives which adequately address the real urgent need for security of tenure.

“The Home Loan scheme is a dishonest gesture by Fine Gael to look like they are doing something about this crisis without actually having to intervene. They continue to refuse to intervene in the market and stand faithful to the private sector claiming it can adequately address the housing crisis. They couldn’t be more wrong on that front,” concludes Pringle.


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