Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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416. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if mortgage interest support can be offered in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27024/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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There are currently approximately 2,300 people in receipt of the mortgage interest supplement (MIS) scheme for which the Government has provided over €7 million for in 2016.

The MIS scheme 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 1st January 2018.

It is expected that over the remaining period existing customers will exit the scheme through sustainable solutions being put in place with their lenders; securing employment; or exit strategies sponsored by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government, such as the Mortgage to Rent Scheme.

The continued payment of mortgage interest supplement does little to assist recipients in improving the long term difficulty of addressing their mortgage problem.

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

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABs) assists people who are over-indebted and need help and advice in coping with debt problems, in particular those on low incomes and people living on social welfare payments. In addition to its traditional core business, MABS has been developed to provide more targeted services to support mortgage holders in arrears. Since mid – 2015, a Dedicated Mortgage Arrears MABS (DMA MABS) service has been established across the MABS network of services. This service is focusing on post-Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) cases and assisting mortgage holders to assess the extent to which the option on offer from the lender is the best and most sustainable option, and where required, negotiating with the lender on the client’s behalf. To date, 23 full-time and 3 part-time specialist advisors are in place in 25 locations across the country and over 2,500 clients have benefitted from the service.

MABS has established a national network of Court Mentors to attend relevant Courts nationwide, where repossessions hearings are listed, to provide support to distressed borrowers.

More recently a new Scheme of Aid and Advice for Borrowers in Home Mortgage Arrears has been put in place to assist people who are insolvent and in serious mortgage arrears on their home, to access independent expert financial and/or legal advice to help them find the best possible solutions, with the key priority being to support families to remain in their own homes.

MABS is the Government’s “one stop shop” point of information and guidance for homeowners in arrears and all applications for aid and advice under the scheme must go through MABS.

It is recommended that the person concerned contact their local MABS for advice and support.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.