Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 April 2012
32 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance if he will detail all actions taken by him following the publication of the Keane Report last October and the measures he intends to bring forward in the coming months to alleviate mortgage distress. [19302/12]
View answer229 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance if he has advanced plans to introduce measures to bring real relief to distressed mortgage holders; what those measures are; when he intends putting them into action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19215/12]
View answer230 Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Finance the latest figures for distressed mortgage holders in County Cavan and in County Monaghan; the total number across the 26 counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19216/12]
View answer258 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which the levels of mortgage or other household debt has been identified with particular reference to the levels of arrears; if a particular strategy is being prepared with the objective of safeguarding the family homes so affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19543/12]
View answer259 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which it has been possible to engage with the lending agencies with a view to dealing with the high levels of mortgage arrears; if any particular efforts have been made to isolate arrears containing penalties for late payments or compound interest; if such matters can be addressed in every date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19544/12]
View answer260 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Finance the extent to which mortgage arrears, credit card or other forms of household debt has been identified; if it has been accepted that the application of compound interest and or penalties creates an impossible situation which requires every attention and resolution as identified by the IMF; if specific strategies are being pursued in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19545/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 229, 230 and 258 to 260, inclusive, together.
The latest data from the Central Bank indicates that at the end of December 2011 there were around 769,000 residential mortgage loan accounts in the State and that, of these, around 70,900 were at least 91 days in arrears. I am informed by the Central Bank that it does not provide a county breakdown of those accounts in arrears
While the vast majority of homeowners continue to meet their mortgage commitments, the Government is fully aware of the increasing stress that some homeowners are facing arising from difficulties in meeting their mortgage commitments. This is an issue of the utmost importance for the Government. A Government subcommittee, chaired by An Taoiseach and including all relevant Ministers, has been established to ensure that a high priority is assigned to this important issue. At official level, this work is being progressed by a high level Steering Group. The key task of this group, which is chaired by the Secretary General of my Department and which also includes senior officials from the other relevant Government Departments and the Central Bank, is to coordinate the implementation of the various recommendations of the "Keane Report" as approved by Government. Significant progress has been made on this. The Department of Justice and Equality has published a general scheme of a Personal Insolvency Bill. A significant number of contributions have been received on the general scheme, including recommendations and a detailed report from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality arising from its hearings on the Scheme, and these will be considered by Government as it finalises the Bill. On the "mortgage to rent" initiative, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has been working on the development and implementation of a pilot scheme with AIB and Cluid and a number of cases are now being processed. There has also been significant Central Bank engagement with individual mortgage lenders on their mortgage arrears resolution strategies. These initial plans were received towards the end of 2011 and since then they have been the subject of detailed contact between the Central Bank and banks. The Central Bank has now set out some key deliverables and dates for specific actions it wishes banks to undertake, including a requirement for banks to approve the resolution options they will make available and the provision of greater information on the level of their unsustainable mortgages. On the provision of a mortgage advisory function, the Department of Social Protection is working with the relevant agencies within its remit and detailed consideration is now underway on the most appropriate and efficient mechanism for the delivery of this service having regard to the other financial, budgeting and public service information and advice mechanisms already in place and proposed
In addition to the above, the Central Bank's revised Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears remains a key framework to govern the relationship between lenders and borrowers who are in arrears, or facing arrears, on their mortgage and this continues to provide very important and much needed protections. These include a restriction on the imposition of charges and/or surcharge interest by lenders on a mortgage account in arrears to which the Code applies and in respect of which the borrower is co-operating reasonably and honestly with the lender. In this regard the Central Bank has published a useful guide for consumers on mortgage arrears "Mortgage Arrears — A Consumer Guide to Dealing with your Lender" and this is available on the Central Bank website.
