Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 44: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on a voluntary scheme for persons in mortgage arrears to transfer their homes to a local authority and become council tenants. [30409/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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The Government approved the publication of the Report of the Inter-Departmental Group on Mortgage Arrears on 12 October. In establishing the group, the Government set two core objectives:

- To assist those facing real difficulties to remain in their own homes where appropriate, and

- To ensure a distinction between those who cannot afford to pay their mortgages and those who choose not to pay their mortgages.

Work is now underway to implement key elements of the report and I will shortly launch two mortgage-to-rent schemes in line with the report's recommendations. These schemes will operate on a pilot basis initially, subject to prompt review ahead of wider roll-out. Under each scheme, households in extreme mortgage distress who are eligible for social housing will be able to remain in their homes as social housing tenants with either the lending institution or a housing association taking ownership of the property. My Department has now begun working with a lender and an approved housing body to make the pilot schemes operational as soon as possible.