Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2017
728. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his views on the requirement being made of families who are in mortgage and financial distress to pay their water charges before they are allowed to participate in the mortgage-to-rent scheme in view of the ending of water charges and the process of repayment of these charges. [42841/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra734. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of persons who have been approved for the mortgage-to-rent scheme; the number of persons who have successfully achieved a completed mortgage-to-rent; and the number of persons who have been forced to pay for outstanding water charges before they can avail of a mortgage-to-rent agreement. [42933/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 728 and 734 together.
Since the introduction of the Mortgage to Rent, MTR, Scheme in 2012, a total of 3,765 cases have been submitted under the scheme to the end of September 2017. Of the 3,765 cases submitted, 2,909 were ineligible or terminated during the process. Of the remaining cases submitted, 282 have been completed, and the remaining 574 are actively being progressed.
The Housing Agency publishes, on a quarterly basis, detailed statistical information on the operation of the MTR scheme. This information is available on the Agency's website at the following link:https://www.housingagency.ie/our-services/housing-supply-services/mortgage-to-rent.aspx.
Under Section 3(A) of the Water Services Act 2014 (inserted by Section 48 of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015), an owner of a dwelling who proposes to sell that dwelling shall, before completion of the sale, pay to Irish Water any charge in respect of the dwelling which is payable by the owner. The owner must also provide to his or her solicitor either a certificate of discharge from Irish Water confirming that any charge in respect of the dwelling owed to Irish Water has been paid or a statement from Irish Water that any charge in respect of the dwelling is not the liability of the owner.
Irish Water is still accepting payments where there is an outstanding balance and issuing a Certificate of Discharge. These people will be entitled to a refund once the Water Services Bill 2017, which I am currently bringing through the Houses of the Oireachtas, is enacted.
