Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I mentioned yesterday, mortgage arrears are putting a great deal of pressure on many families. The Government is determined to ensure that as the recovery deepens, nobody will be left behind. We are making headway in terms of improving the situation. The most recent figures show a significant improvement in arrears, particularly in respect of family homes. The Central Bank figures underline this progressive trend, with the number of family homes in arrears having fallen for the past five quarters. Figures from the Department of Finance for the six main banks show that the number of cases of arrears in excess of 90 days, when compared with the situation at the start of 2014, have fallen by over 17,500. In August 2013, some 2,500 split mortgages had been put in place by the six main banks. The current figure in this regard is 20,500. During the same period, permanent restructures put in place by the six main banks in respect of family homes increased from 41,000 to 91,000. However, the same progress is not being made in respect of those who are in arrears of over two years. For this reason, the Government has undertaken to review the arrangements put in place to ensure there is a viable route forward for anybody who wants help. The Government has been working with the banks, which have been meeting the targets set for them by the Central Bank under the MARP process.

We will have to consider whether the current approach is the one that will really help to move forward the most difficult cases. It is not right that people should live with extreme mental pressure in respect of debts they cannot pay. As mentioned by many Members today, this is damaging the mental health of families and individuals throughout the country. It is a matter of serious concern to Government, which has thus far been responsible for the most radical overhaul of debt management in this State. As mentioned earlier, we have rewritten laws on bankruptcy in an effort to move away from the previously draconian-Victorian approach taken to this issue heretofore. The Government has put in place a range of options to help ordinary people who find they cannot pay their debts, including their mortgages.

The Insolvency Service of Ireland is in place to help people in a practical and understanding way. We know that people who have gone through the process have experienced great relief. The ISI has been proactive in encouraging people to use its services. Following suspension of application fees, the number of people availing of personal insolvency arrangements increased. These arrangements are a solution to the mortgage problem and more people should be availing of them. The first step is to make people aware of what is possible and this will be a focus of Government.

The issue of bankruptcy was mentioned a great deal today. In 2014, there were 448 bankruptcy adjudications, 95% of which were sought by debtors. It is wrong to say that no progress is being made in relation to mortgage arrears and insolvency. There is more to be done and progress to be made, but the Government is aware of the problems that exist and is doing its best to rectify them.

Senator Conway spoke about the New Land League, on which issue I do not propose to comment. Senator Higgins spoke about the large number of jobs that will be created during development of new Apple facility in Athenry and of her concerns regarding delays in the planning process in this regard. Senator Bradford called for a housing policy debate. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Coffey, who is responsible for planning and housing to come to the House in the next couple of weeks to address those issues.

Senator Mullen spoke about Glanbia and also referred to Sinn Féin's fund-raising machine inside and outside of this country and the need for greater scrutiny in this regard. I will try to arrange a debate on that issue in the next session.

Senator Noone raised the issue of roaming charges and the delay in abolition of these changes. There is no question but that what is happening is a retrograde step. The delay is unacceptable. We were promised by Europe that these charges would be abolished in many instances but this will not now happen for another three years. On EU affairs, it was agreed by this House that we would deal with more European affairs matters.We have had a number of meetings of the sub-committees at which all parties were represented and we have decided that, for the rest of the year, we will concentrate on three areas in the work programme, namely, energy, youth employment and agriculture. We are bringing over people such as Commissioners and Directors General of the European institutions so I hope we have a strong input from Members in the House. There is no point in these people coming here if there are only five, six or seven people in the House. If we want this we will have to be proactive ourselves so I urge all Members to get involved and to prepare their questions, some of which we can even give to the relevant people before they come over here.