Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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231. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government how the €20 million fund announced (details supplied) was spent; if any of the fund remains; through which local authorities was it drawn down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40954/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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A Mortgage to Rent scheme for local authority borrowers in arrears was piloted in two local authority areas, namely Westmeath County Council and Dublin City Council, in 2013. The Local Authority Mortgage to Rent (LAMTR) scheme was rolled out nationally in February 2014. The LAMTR scheme is similar to the Mortgage to Rent scheme for borrowers with mortgages from private commercial lending institutions, insofar as it also targets low income families whose mortgage situation is unsustainable and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future. The LAMTR Scheme also ensures that the family remains in their home and ownership is transferred to a local authority rather than to an approved housing body as is the case under the Mortgage to Rent scheme in the private lending sector. Therefore, the family becomes a tenant of the local authority under the LAMTR scheme. Eligibility requirements under both schemes are in line with other forms of social housing support.

Funding for the Scheme is secured through the annual Estimates process. The Local Authority Mortgage to Rent (LAMTR) scheme is demand - led and actual expenditure across local authorities amounted to approximately €6.4m in 2014. A list of the funds drawn down by Local Authority in 2014 is set out below. A budget allocation of €8m was provided in 2015, of which €5.8m has been drawn-down by local authorities to date in 2015. A total of €17m has been provided for Mortgage to Rent Schemes (both Local Authority and Approved Housing Bodies Schemes) in 2016.

The Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) is being implemented across all local authorities. My Department issued revised guidelines to local authorities for dealing with mortgage arrears within the local authority sector in June 2014. Dealing with Mortgage Arrears – A Guide for Local Authorities is available on my Department’s website by clicking on the following link:

In cases of acute mortgage arrears distress, all homeowners also have the option of seeking to avail of the legal process now also in place to deal with personal insolvency. The most important step any family in arrears can take is to engage early with the Arrears Support Unit of the local authority. Solutions are available and advice should be sought as early as possible.

Funds drawn down by local authorities under the LAMTR scheme in 2014: