Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Independent)
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144. To ask the Minister for Social Protection regarding the fact that the mortgage interest supplement scheme has been closed to new entrants since January 2014, the supports and payments available to home owners who are facing financial difficulties with mortgage interest payments and need the assistance which this scheme previously supplied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48072/14]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Government’s strategy to assist those in mortgage difficulty is built around the following measures, as recommended in the 2011 Interdepartmental Mortgage Arrears Working Group (Keane Group), in four main distinct areas:

- Lenders providing sustainable and durable resolution options to their borrower;

- A social housing response sponsored by local authorities;

- Comprehensive advice to borrowers; and

- Personal Insolvency Reform.

In line with the introduction of the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) provision was made for the discontinuation of entitlement to the mortgage interest supplement (MIS) scheme for all new applicants from 1 January 2014. The original intention of the MIS scheme was to provide short-term support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The supplement assisted with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only. In the context of the overall strategy, the continued payment of MIS did little to assist recipients or lenders in improving the long term difficulty in addressing the mortgage problem.

Customers availing of this support prior to 1st January 2014 have been able to retain entitlement to the scheme up to 1st January 2018. There are currently approximately 6,100 people in receipt of the supplement for which the Government has provided almost €18 million in 2014.

It is expected that during the four year period, existing customers will no longer require this support through sustainable solutions being put in place with their lenders, securing employment or exit strategies sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. I am satisfied that the most appropriate way in which customers experiencing mortgage difficulties can be supported is through engagement with their lender.