Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Workers and Unemployed Action Group) | Oireachtas source

While I thank the Minister of State for the information, the figures he provided show that the number of approvals under the scheme is unacceptably low. Anything that could be done to improve the number would be very welcome. The level of mortgage arrears continues to be very high, and unfortunately the insolvency legislation brought forward by the Government is now known to be seriously flawed. The banks have a veto and mortgage holders cannot avail of it as they have little or no disposable income. The mortgage-to-rent scheme is an ideal one and it certainly should be used as a tool to deal with the many situations in which families have little or no disposable income and therefore cannot avail of the personal insolvency scheme. I urge the widening and promotion of the scheme.

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