Government trying to involve banks in shared equity scheme It is understood that the nation's banks would match the Government's €75m initial funding of the scheme The department has said its scheme will meet Central Bank lending rules and that homeowners will not be required to repay the equity stake taken by the Government. File picture. Sun, 17 Jan, 2021 - 20:30 Paul Hosford Political Correspondent The Government is controversially trying to involve the banks in its shared equity housing scheme, it has emerged. It is understood that the nation's banks would match the Government's €75m initial funding of the scheme. However, discussions are said to be stalled due to a request from banks that the interest on the Government's equity be more aligned to the mortgage market and not as low as 1.5%, as wished for by the Department of Housing.