Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government commits to establishing "a dedicated new court to sensitively and expeditiously handle mortgage arrears and other personal insolvency cases, including through imposing solutions, including those recommended by the new service". I have been asking about progress on this for two years and every time I have asked about it on the Order of Business I have been told that it is being reviewed. The Minister rightly pointed out that, thankfully, thousands upon thousands of repossessions may not have happened, though even one avoidable repossession is one too many. However, many thousands of families, including families in our own constituency of Wicklow, are being dragged through the courts without representation. There needs to be a place that can deal with these issues and which can protect and enforce the rights and options available to mortgage holders. When are we going to see the legislation which would give effect to this new court?

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