Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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246. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding a mortgage to rent case for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19409/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Approved Housing Body (AHB) Mortgage to Rent Scheme (AHB-mortgage-to-rent) an AHB can acquire ownership of a property with an unsustainable private mortgage, enabling the household to remain in their home as a social housing tenant.

To be eligible for the scheme a household must have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process and agree to the voluntary surrender of their home. In general the mortgage must be in negative equity with some cases of positive equity considered on a case by case basis. The household must also be deemed eligible for social housing.

Once a case comes within the criteria and the householder has provided consent to the lender to share information, the Housing Agency seeks an AHB to complete the transaction and prepares a submission to my Department for funding approval.

In relation to the specific case raised, I understand from the Housing Agency that it is awaiting a survey of the property from the AHB to ascertain both the condition of the property and to identify any repairs required. Once the survey is completed, the AHB will consider the findings of the survey and will revert to the Housing Agency. The Housing Agency can then submit a funding request to my Department if appropriate.

My Department frequently emphasises, to all parties concerned, the necessity for MTR cases to be dealt with in an efficient and timely manner.