Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 70 and 76 of 21 February 2019, the reason for the difference between those 1,250 tracker complaints on hand at the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman and the subset of 645 under active investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9973/19]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Firstly, I must point out that the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman (FSPO) is independent in the performance of his statutory functions. I have no role in the day to day workings of the office or in the decisions which he takes.

However the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman has informed me that while the Central Bank Examination was still underway individual tracker mortgage-related complaints were placed on hold pending confirmation that the Central Bank Examination had concluded in respect of those complainants. In July 2018, a decision was taken to begin to take complaints that could potentially progress off hold.

Complaints relating to tracker mortgage rates where the complainant has completed the Provider’s internal dispute resolution process and where they have availed of the Independent Appeals Process if open to them are now being progressed by the FSPO. Those complaints which have not yet reached that state remain on hold. Complaints that have been confirmed by the Provider not to have been impacted by the Central Bank Examination are also being progressed.

As at 20 February 2019, there were 1250 complaints on hand that are linked to the tracker mortgage rate issue. Of these 1250 complaints, 645 relate to:

(a) complaints that have been confirmed by the Provider not to have been impacted by the Central Bank Examination, or

(b) complaints where the complainant has completed the Provider’s internal dispute resolution process and where they have availed of the Independent Appeals Process if open to them.

Those complaints which have not yet reached the state outlined in either (a) or (b) above remain on hold (605 complaints).

I would also remind the Deputy that the FSPO wrote to all members of the Houses of the Oireachtas informing them of the Protocol for the Provision of Information to Members of the Oireachtas by State Bodies and providing a dedicated email address for the timely provision of information to members of the Oireachtas.