Mortgage and family pressures
Deputy Fitzpatrick describes families under strain from mortgages, childcare costs and day-to-day living expenses, and asks what more will be done. The Chair notes it is closer to a topical issue, and the Tánaiste replies that supports such as Abhaile, mortgage interest relief and debt restructuring are already in place.
As a former Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Tánaiste, more than most, will realise the Government has invested a lot of money in housing and homelessness. However, we have a number of serious problems. There are families who are struggling big time to pay their mortgages to the bank and to put food on the table and clothes on their children.
In fairness to the Government, it has looked at mortgage interest relief and extended it until 2020. Husbands and wives have to work and pay for crèches. These families are struggling in a major way. If we do not look after them, they will end up homeless and on the social housing list. There are a lot of problems here. Can we get a commitment from the Government to look after the people who are out working? They are working-class people who need a bit of help. There is no point waiting for next year or the year after. It is now that these people need help.
Comment on this
This seems more like a Topical Issue matter, Deputy, than a question on promised legislation. I call the Tánaiste.
Comment on this
It is a very relevant issue that the Deputy raises. We have repeatedly introduced new thinking and new policy to support people who are struggling to pay their mortgages. We have done so through the Abhaile system, which provides free legal support and financial advice to people, mortgage interest relief, which lightens the burden somewhat, and a range of other supports which allow people to restructure debt into affordable repayments.