I wish to speak specifically about Liberties Recycling, Training and Development, which is based in Bluebell. This organisation began in the inner city in 1999. It is a small, non-profit, community-based project which operates a clothing and recycling social enterprise and charity that reaches out to help people who are recovering from drug addiction. It offers them employment as well as the chance to return to education and training. At present, Liberties Recycling employs 62 people, who recycle and collect, and sort and pack grades of clothing and footwear, for reuse in markets in developing countries and for processing for use in mattress-making and insulation. Cotton material is put into bales for usage by local customers, including Dublin Bus, motor factoring companies and cleaning companies. Representatives collect clothes through their network of clothing recycle banks and schools, by door-to-door collections and through agreement with charity shops such as those run by the Irish Cancer Society.

Currently, the organisation has 145 textile banks located around the country. However, in the past 12 months more than 80 of these have been damaged by unknown individuals. As a result, since last January there has been a loss of revenue to the project of approximately €200,000. In the past two years the loss in revenue has mounted to the staggering total of more than €600,000. This money would have been invested back into the organisation to create employment and run training programmes for the individuals involved. Each year more than 100 people receive certificates in subjects as diverse as fork-lift driving, computer applications, mathematics and payroll, as well as for participation in reading and literacy projects. In recent years thousands of young people who otherwise would have been caught up in the drug culture in their communities have gained work through this project. Some of them are now well placed in long-term work throughout the city.

The recent surge in thefts from the clothing banks means there is a realistic chance that Liberties Recycling might face closure, which would be a major blow to the community I represent in the Ballyfermot-Drimnagh-Crumlin area. For those who use the centre, it is a lifeline. The recent "Prime Time" programme in April highlighted the issue of thefts and illegal profiteering from charity clothing banks. It showed organised criminal gangs were stealing clothes from these banks, often damaging them in the process. Some charities are being brutally targeted by criminals and are at their wits' end as to how to continue and counteract such attacks on their business. We urgently need to address this problem. Recycling facilities such as Liberties Recyling, which gives opportunities to young people who normally would not have them, are in need of a response.

The statistics are alarming. A total of 94,500 mortgages from private dwellings are in arrears for over 90 days, while 23,500 mortgages are in arrears for over 720 days. The Government is well aware of current events. It is not a laughing matter. It involves people's lives and homes. A home is not just bricks and mortar. It is what happens inside those walls that matters. This is a very stressful time for many young people and many people who have lost their jobs. We should not use it in this Chamber to badger each other. We should use it to solve the problems out there.

Perhaps the Minister might take the following matter into consideration. All of the banks have a responsibility to customers and must engage with borrowers right from the start. They cannot bring them in and make fools of them. Mortgage holders cannot deal with any further mortgage interest rates or distress. It is difficult enough for them to pay what they can at the moment. I am very concerned that people struggling to make their payments who want to switch to interest-only mortgages are being financially penalised by their banks. A total of 37% of the restructuring accounts are on interest-only arrangements. A young man rang me today to tell me he had incurred a charge of €700 through switching to an interest-only mortgage and deferring his payments for three months due to financial difficulties. The bank called it a credit cost increase. I have not heard of this but then I am not a financial wizard like some people in here. If that is true, certain banks are able to put even more pressure on people. These are banks that are supposed to be sitting down with people and trying to sort out and help them through their difficulties. The banks should not forget that they were helped out of the mess they were in.

They should not now turn on those ordinary borrowers, the small borrowers and the young people - not the big sharks - who bought into an outrageous market. The banks are charging those people €700 to switch to an interest-only mortgage deferred over three months and are calling it a credit cost increase. I find this very difficult to understand and I ask the Minister of State to address that point.