John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 345: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the position in regard to the introduction of the new code of conduct for local authorities in terms of dealing with borrowers in arrears; if he will provide further information on the additional supports that will be provided alongside the new code; and if he will detail his contact with local authorities to date in terms of their own input and ideas for the proposals. [2466/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

1My Department issued comprehensive guidance to local authorities on the treatment of mortgage arrears, including local authority mortgages for shared ownership transactions, in March 2010. That guidance was closely based on the Central Bank's first statutory Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears to ensure that cases of local authority mortgage arrears are handled in a manner that is sympathetic to the needs of the particular household, while also protecting the position of the local authority concerned. To reflect the content of the Central Bank's revised Code of Conduct – which replaced the previous code from 1 January 2011 and was informed by the deliberations of the Expert Group on Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt – my Department is currently preparing updated guidance to local authorities in consultation with the City and County Managers Association.

Where any borrower, either from a local authority or from a private financial institution, is facing difficulties in meeting mortgage repayments, they should engage proactively and constructively with the lender to seek to achieve an agreed solution. The services of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service are also available to such borrowers and support is available through the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme.

In addition Section 34 of Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 provides local authorities with powers to deal flexibly with distressed borrowers.