Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the 100 extra staff to take mortgage queries from the public; the location at which persons may apply for these positions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30758/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department participated in the Interdepartmental Mortgage Arrears Working Group (referred to as the Keane group) and is a member of the Steering Group set up by the Minister for Finance to oversee and drive its overall recommendations

This Group recommended that an independent Mortgage Support and Advice Service be established to advise mortgage holders in arrears or pre-arrears in assessing their options.

The publication of the heads of the Personal Insolvency Bill in January 2012 proposes the introduction of a four step process to address personal insolvency issues with the first three steps involving non-judicial debt settlement arrangements. This is a new arrangement and was not envisaged when the thinking in support of a Mortgage Advisory Service was originally proposed. The Department is examining the role envisaged for the Personal Insolvency Trustee to ensure that there is no conflict with or duplication of Government supported services. From the customers perspective for example, the target group and complexity of the problems that need to be addressed appear to be similar and from the advisory perspective, the skills and expertise required would also appear to be similar for both services.

The Department is chairing a Working Group as part of the Implementation Steering Group to examine the issues relating to the establishment of the Mortgage Advice Service including any staff requirement. The needs of the customer, the importance of ease of access and information on services and the way in which the services will be made available will be to the fore.

Given that more than 70,000 people have already entered into arrangements with their lenders, it is important that any new service would focus on those who have yet to engage with their lender and support those who are in the earlier stages of negotiations with their lender as a first step in seeking to resolve their difficulties.

The Working Group has not yet fully concluded its deliberations. It reports regularly to the Implementation Steering Group and to the Cabinet Committee on Mortgage Arrears.