Government insists pledges around emergency home loans scheme will be met

The Government has insisted it has enough money to fund emergency mortgage help promised to more than 1,500 struggling families despite opposition warnings it is already at least €100m over-budget.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and a spokesperson for Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy denied the scheme is struggling to cope with demand but admitted officials have asked the Central Bank to approve a "second tranche" of funds.