Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2026
603. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if there are any supports available to homeowners who have become disabled after purchasing their home and are struggling with mortgage payments as a result of a change in income; if not, if he is considering enacting supports of this nature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16683/26]
View answerAny mortgage holder that is struggling with repayments should, in the first instance, engage with their lender to explore their options. Within the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) framework there are many potential resolutions for borrowers in mortgage arrears, once they are engaging with their lender. The appropriate solution for each borrower will depend on their personal circumstances and their financial circumstances. The Mortgage to Rent (MTR) scheme may be a suitable option for a Borrower when all other options have been explored.
The MTR scheme is targeted at those households in mortgage arrears who have had their mortgage position deemed unsustainable by their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP), and who have very limited options, if any, to meet their long-term housing needs themselves. In order for a borrower to qualify for the MTR scheme, the mortgage, property and household must meet detailed eligibility criteria.
One of the requirements of the MTR scheme is that the household must qualify for social housing support and therefore their income limits must be below the income limits for social housing generally.
My focus, and that of the Government, is to ensure that as many households as possible remain in their homes and I would also encourage borrowers to engage with the Abhaile Service, the national mortgage arrears resolution service, which is available free of charge to the borrower. The unique element of Abhaile is that it brings together the full range of supports and services required by borrowers in mortgage arrears. A dedicated adviser will work with the borrower and their lender to find the best solution for their particular situation. MABS acts as the gateway for the service and can be contacted by telephoning (076)1072000 or by accessing their website at: www.mabs.ie/abhaile .
For those borrowers in danger of losing their home who are ineligible for the MTR scheme but qualify for social housing support, I would recommended that they engage as early as possible with their local authority regarding their long-term housing needs.
