Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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1053. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if a derogation will be granted to qualify for the mortgage to rent scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [21683/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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To be eligible for the AHB-mortgage-to-rent scheme a household must have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process, agree to the voluntary surrender of their home, be in negative equity, and be deemed eligible for social housing in accordance with section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2009. These criteria are the minimum practical criteria required to operate the scheme and to target those households most in need.

The Government has recently announced changes to the mortgage to rent scheme as part of a broader package of measures to deal with mortgage arrears. The changes being made will make the scheme more flexible and accessible and are designed to enable more properties to qualify for the scheme. The case that the Deputy has referred to may benefit from these measures which are due to be in place by end June. In that context the householder should continue to engage with their lender.