Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I refer to a question which Deputy Séamus Healy has asked twice in the last two weeks, once of the Taoiseach and once of the Tánaiste. On neither occasion has he received a reply which dealt with the question he raised. Before the Minister replies, the 30,000 families affected by this and I are well aware that the Government has established the Insolvency Service of Ireland, ISI, that new legislation on bankruptcy has been enacted and that the Central Bank has a mortgage arrears resolution process. Listing these points by rote is not an answer to my very specific question.

My question is on householders who lack sufficient income to pay their existing mortgages. They are unable to come to an agreement for reduced payments, split mortgages or mortgage to rent with their lenders. They do not have sufficient income to avail of the options from ISI and they cannot access bankruptcy and keep their homes. Up to 30,000 families are in this situation and face eviction. Can the Minister spell out his Government's policy for a clear, political and financial solution for these people, without the waffle about the Government's priorities, to keep these people in their homes?

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