Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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232. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on measures being put in place to deal with bankruptcy for those in mortgage arrears; if the proposed change of the discharge period, from one year to three years, will take place; the options available to those facing eviction; the urgent action the Government is taking on this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17457/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will recall, a very substantial change to Ireland's bankruptcy regime was made by the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, which reduced automatic discharge from bankruptcy from 12 years to 3 years. This Government has also greatly reduced the costs of bankruptcy - from around €1400 in total in 2012, to just €270 euro from 1 January 2015. While bankruptcy used to be predominantly sought by creditors, since late 2013 almost all bankruptcies are sought by the debtor.

Work is currently under way across Government Departments to develop a comprehensive and effective package of measures to help those trapped in unsustainable mortgage debt on their homes to arrive at sustainable solutions. This is a priority for me and for the Government. That work is now being completed, with specific attention to the personal insolvency legislation, and the Government’s action plan in this area will be announced shortly.

I am anxious to ensure that the immediate steps which are to be taken now will be ones which will directly assist those in extreme debt and mortgage difficulty, and which will service the very fundamental principle that loss of ownership of a family home through repossession should be a last resort.

This is basic to our consideration and evaluation of all options which are available to us, legislative and otherwise, and including the reduction of the bankruptcy discharge period proposed by Deputy Penrose’s Private Member's Bill.