Marian Harkin
Question:667. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Social Protection when funding will be put in place to continue the abhaile scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54868/22]
View answerTuesday, 8 November 2022
Questions (667)
Written answers
Abhaile was established in 2016 by the then Ministers for Justice and Social Protection, with the intention of being a three-year response to the impact of the financial crisis on mortgage arrears in Ireland, with a plan to wind down the service at the end of this three-year period. However, in 2019, taking account of continuing need, the Government approved a three-year extension to Abhaile, with earmarked funding until the end of 2022. Subsequently the Programme for Government contains a commitment to continue to resource the Abhaile scheme.
In making the last extension, the Government agreed that a strategic review of the operation of Abhaile should be undertaken. The review is currently in progress by independent consultants and the findings of the review will be considered by myself and the Minister for Justice and wider Government in determining how best the service should continue beyond the end of 2022. I therefore expect that my colleague the Minister for Justice and I, will shortly be bringing a Memorandum to Government on the Abhaile service.
The Citizens Information Board (CIB) receives its overall budget allocation for all services, including Abhaile, on an annual basis. An allocation for the Abhaile service has been sought for the service for 2023 as part of the CIB's overall budget requirements for 2023. This is, of course, subject to the completion of the Department's overall estimates process and, once fully complete, this will be communicated to CIB.