Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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517. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government about the number of mortgages in arrears among local authority borrowers for the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4757/16]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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519. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government about the number of mortgages in arrears among local authority borrowers, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4765/16]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 519 together.

My Department publishes a wide range of housing statistics, including the number and value of local authority mortgages and a breakdown of those in arrears by local authority. The statistics are available on my Department’s website at:

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The Central Bank’s Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears requires all mortgage lenders to ensure that it has in place a Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) as a framework for handling such cases. My Department introduced guidelines for local authorities in 2012 and, subsequently, issued revised guidelines in June 2014. A Mortgage to Rent scheme, specifically for local authority mortgage borrowers, is available as part of the MARP arrangements. The Local Authority Mortgage to Rent (LAMTR) scheme and the wider operation of MARP within local authorities are kept under regular review by my Department. Information on the LAMTR scheme and guidance on local authority mortgage arrears is also available at the following link:

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In cases of acute mortgage distress, 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 household 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.