Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 November 2018
101. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if he maintains statistics on the number of repossessions; and the services available to those that become homeless following repossession. [47161/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not collect statistics in relation to privately owned mortgage arrears or repossession cases. The Central Bank does, however, publish quarterly statistics, which are available on its website at the following link: https://www.centralbank.ie/statistics/data-and-analysis/credit-and-banking-statistics/mortgage-arrears.
The Government is committed to supporting people in mortgage arrears to remain in their homes. There are a range of supports and services in place to assist people in that regard, including the Mortgage to Rent scheme; the personal insolvency system; and the Abhaile service which gives borrowers access to State-funded and regulated financial or legal professionals.
In relation to individuals and families that find themselves facing homelessness, housing authorities in the first instance work closely with such individuals to prevent such households from entering emergency accommodation and seek to secure accommodation for those households through the Homeless Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme.
In cases where households do enter emergency accommodation, whether it be a Family Hub or commercial hotel or bed and breakfast, housing authorities continue to support and work with these households in order to exit them from emergency accommodation to long term tenancies as soon as possible.
