Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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45. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress on the new scheme of access to independent legal and financial advice for those in home mortgage arrears announced in January 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17140/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am pleased to inform the Deputy that work on the new scheme of access to independent legal and financial advice for those in home mortgage arrears is at a very advanced stage.

That work has been progressed by my Department and the Department of Social Protection, working together with MABS (the Money Advice and Budgeting Service), the Insolvency Service, the Legal Aid Board and the Citizens Information Board. There has been intensive work to finalise the different components of the Scheme.

The changes to the legal aid regulations needed to allow provision of legal aid and advice under the Scheme came into effect on 23 May 2016 (Civil Legal Aid Regulations 2016, S.I. No. 212/2016). Protocols have been agreed for provision of services under the Scheme, and panels have been set up of personal insolvency practitioners and solicitors with relevant expertise to provide advice and assistance.

The final elements of the Scheme are currently being completed and I expect to be in a position to announce the scheme's commencement by an early date.