John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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976. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there is an alternative in place for those who would seek financial support under mortgage interest supplement but can no longer do so; if not, the supports in place to assist those in mortgage difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12625/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The most appropriate way in which customers experiencing mortgage difficulties can be supported is through on-going engagement with their lender to explore sustainable solutions. The mortgage interest supplement scheme was discontinued to new entrants from 1st January 2014, on the basis that the ongoing payment of this supplement on an indefinite basis would not address the longer term challenges for people in serious mortgage arrears.

The Deputy may be aware that the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), under the aegis of the Citizens Information Board, provides assistance to people, in particular those on low incomes or living on social welfare payments, who are over-indebted and need help and advice with debt problems. As part of its free services, MABS provides help and advice to those in mortgage arrears.

The role of MABS was expanded in 2015 with the establishment of a Dedicated Mortgage Arrears MABS service (DMA MABS) across the MABS network, to help people specifically with home mortgage arrears. There are 32 specialist DMA advisors working across 27 locations countrywide, assisting borrowers to assess the options available to them and, where required, negotiating with lenders on their behalf. To date, the DMA service has helped approximately 5,000 such borrowers.

Additionally, MABS provides a national network of court mentors who attend each listed repossession Court hearing countrywide. The mentors provide support to distressed borrowers who are facing the loss of their home and signpost them to the appropriate services. To date, over 1,400 borrowers have been referred onward to MABS advisors through the court mentor service.

In 2016, a further initiative was announced by Government, known as Abhaile. This scheme further extends the free services already available to borrowers through the DMA MABS service and the court mentor service. The new voucher based scheme, for which MABS is the gateway, provides access for people, who are insolvent and in home mortgage arrears, to access independent expert financial and/or legal advice and assistance, free of charge. To date, approximately 11,200 vouchers for services have been issued, in respect of some 7,000 principle private residences.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.