Only 61 per cent of the Agency for Equal Distribution of Burdens’ budget for 2024 was spent, its chairman Akis Pouros said on Tuesday.

He also told the House refugees committee that approximately €28.2 million had been allocated, but this was set to rise with the introduction of new criteria.

However, lawmakers raised concerns over prolonged delays in application approvals, warning that slow processing could deter those in urgent need of financial support for housing or education.

Pouros attributed these delays primarily to the sluggish pace of property evaluations conducted by the land registry, which is currently reviewing applications submitted in 2022.

As a result, mortgage loan applications face a 20-month waiting period, while property valuation requests take up to 25 months.

Despite an increase in applications for student loans (up 70 per cent) and housing loans (up 20 per cent) in 2024, the number of applications for new subsidy schemes fell below expectations.

Pouros acknowledged that the fund had not effectively promoted these schemes due to workload pressures.

He further noted that understaffing remained a key challenge, with 3,000 applications still pending.

To address these issues, the 2025 budget includes provisions for three temporary hires to expedite application processing. Additionally, the finance ministry has been notified of the need to fill ten more positions in the organisation.

House committee chair and Akel MP Nikos Kettiros argued that the full budget should be used to support displaced persons.

He highlighted that unutilised funds, estimated at €50 million, were being returned to state coffers instead of aiding refugees. He urged the government to implement a plan ensuring that allocated funds are fully utilised.

Disy MP Nikos Georgiou echoed concerns over budget execution, stressing that financial support for refugees was a moral and national duty.

He criticised bureaucratic delays and warned that the €30 million generated annually through a 0.4 per cent levy should not remain idle.