There are many aspects to the housing crisis and the failure of this Government to deal with it. The programme for Government puts a particular emphasis on affordable housing. The Rebuilding Ireland affordable home loan scheme, which commenced last February, is a mess. More evidence of the mess around it was provided by Brian O'Connell on the "Today with Seán O'Rourke" radio programme. We heard of numerous families who had been approved but who are now being told the funds may not exist. We know that a considerable amount of the funds have been drawn down. These funds would have been expected to have been drawn down in the timeline set out for the €200 million.

I have had multiple items of correspondence, which I have raised and will again today, from people being refused the loan for inexplicable reasons. One family was told that they earn too much and that the other reason they were not being given it was because it was not thought that they could repay the loan. It cannot be both. Is the real reason that the funds are running out? Is that why people are being refused and may not get loans even when they are approved?

The Taoiseach spoke about Cork and the challenges that exist. One of the biggest challenges is the lack of affordable accommodation. The Government has made much of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan. According to a reply to a parliamentary question that I received, of 262 loan applications assessed by Cork County Council, only 25 have been approved. Of 112 loan applications assessed by Cork City Council, only a single loan has been approved, in an area which one would imagine has the greatest demand. Many people cannot afford to get a deposit for a commercial mortgage and do not qualify for social housing. Very little is being done for them and the current mess with the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme is creating a lot of uncertainty and anxiety for many people who need help to get accommodation.

The issue of assessing someone's creditworthiness and ability to repay the loan is separate to the funding allocated. There are two procedures there, one local and one national. It is a very stringent process because of the history of loan systems through local authorities.

Something fishy is going on.

They are separate. When I go into most cases that the Deputy raises here, there is more to the story.

Rubbish.

There are two separate issues here. It is not a mess. It is a significant success. I do not recall any Deputies welcoming it when we brought it out in the first place but it has been oversubscribed and has gone down very well. We are working through the system to see if we can extend the offer because it is a success. I remind the House that it is only one of a whole list of actions to help to tackle the housing crisis. Affordability is very much our focus now because I think people recognise that-----

People who need it are being refused.

-----the social housing delivery system is now up and running and delivering well. The focus now is on affordability. It is one of a number of tools in the kit and we will get it straightened out.

That concludes questions on promised legislation. The Deputies not reached today will be given priority tomorrow.