Mortgage interest supplement
Willie O’Dea challenges the Government’s abolition of mortgage interest supplement during the mortgage crisis. The Taoiseach points to a range of mortgage-distress measures and urges borrowers to negotiate solutions with lenders.
The Taoiseach will be aware that the mortgage crisis continues unabated. Page 14 of the programme for Government reads "...to make greater use of mortgage interest supplement to support families who cannot meet their mortgage repayments, which is a better and cheaper option than paying rent supplement after a family loses their home". How does the Taoiseach reconcile this definitive commitment with the Government's action in abolishing mortgage supplement, which is what it is doing?
Comment on this
The Government has introduced a suite of measures to deal with mortgage distress, many of which have been taken up. The Government encourages people to sit down with their lenders to work out a solution. There is a solution to each case. We have in this regard gone beyond what is contained in the programme for Government.