Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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400. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the supports available to a person who cannot work due to illness in order to pay their mortgage in the absence of the mortgage interest supplement which is being phased out (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21966/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The original purpose of the mortgage interest supplement (MIS) scheme was to provide short term support to eligible people who were unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. The scheme, which assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only, was discontinued for new applicants from 1 January 2014, with customers availing of this support prior to 1st January 2014 retaining entitlement until the closure of the scheme on 1 January 2018. The scheme currently supports approximately 2,600 people for which the Government has provided over €7 million in 2016.

As advised in an earlier response to the Deputy, a review of the person’s concerned ongoing entitlement to MIS was recently undertaken. On review, it was ascertained that the interest portion of the mortgage repayment was less than the minimum contribution payable for a single person, and the payment was stopped on this basis. The person concerned was advised of the outcome of this review and of their right to appeal which I understand is underway.

The most appropriate way in which people experiencing mortgage difficulties can be supported is through on-going engagement with their lender to explore sustainable solutions.

The Deputy is aware that the role of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) has been enhanced with the establishment of a new Dedicated Mortgage Arrears (DMA) MABS service established to help those specifically with mortgage debt. There are now 28 specialist DMA advisors working across 24 locations countrywide, assisting borrowers to assess the options available to them, signposting them towards ISI where appropriate, or negotiating with lenders on their behalf. I would advise that the person concerned contacts their local MABs regarding this service. Contact details for the local MABS services are available on the MABS website at or by contacting the Helpline at 0761072000.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.