Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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71. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will clarify an issue for persons engaging the services of a personal insolvency practitioner as part of the recently announced Abhaile scheme (details supplied). [40264/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, Abhaile, the national mortgage arrears resolution service, was launched in early October and it includes a new Scheme of independent financial and legal advice and assistance to insolvent homeowners who are at risk of losing their homes due to mortgage arrears.

The Scheme is coordinated by the Department of Justice and Equality and the Department of Social Protection, and is available across the country through the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), working in conjunction with the Citizens' Information Board, the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI), and the Legal Aid Board. The homeowner contacts MABS, which will assess their situation and can refer them for advice and assistance from a personal insolvency practitioner (PIP), a solicitor or an accountant, depending on their needs and options. This professional advice and assistance is provided free of charge to the homeowner, under a Scheme voucher issued by MABS, by a professional adviser from one of the panels established and regulated under the Scheme.

Under the Scheme, the borrower is free to choose a professional adviser from the panel, subject to availability, and this is stated on page 1 of the Scheme's information booklet for borrowers. The ISI has established the panel of PIPs who are available to provide advice and assistance under the Abhaile Scheme, and this is published on the ISI website. The borrower is free under the Scheme to choose any PIP from the panel, subject to availability. The website provides contact details for each PIP and indicates in which county he or she is based. However, many PIPs provide services across a number of counties, and the website indicates that the borrower is free to contact any of the PIPs on the panel.