Over 30,000 people with mortgage arrears supported by Abhaile
- Published on: 6 November 2024
- Last updated on: 19 November 2024
Minister for Social Protection, Heather Humphreys TD, and the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, have today published the 2023 Annual Report of Abhaile – the National Mortgage Arrears Resolution Service.
This report highlights how Abhaile has supported over 30,000 borrowers since its establishment in 2016, securing a solution for over a third of these people, and helping almost half to put a solution in place.
Abhaile provides free financial and legal advice to borrowers and supports them to put in place solutions to their mortgage arrears that will keep them in their homes.
Abhaile is coordinated and funded by the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Justice. A range of organisations are involved in delivering Abhaile including the Citizens Information Board (including the Money Advice and Budgeting Service), the Insolvency Service, the Legal Aid Board and the Courts Service.
In 2023, based on recommendations of an external review, and a continuing need for the service, the Government extended the Abhaile service until the end of 2027, ensuring the continuation of these vital services across Ireland.
Commenting today, Minister Humphreys said:
“This Report highlights the impact of the Abhaile service and the contribution of the dedicated staff of the organisations who deliver these important services, day in day out. In agreeing to extend Abhaile last year to the end of 2027, the Government has ensured that this important service remains available to those who need it. I would urge any person experiencing mortgage difficulties to contact Abhaile, through MABS, who will help you find a solution.”
Welcoming the Report, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee commented:
“The annual report of Abhaile shows that the service continues to be a critical lifeline for distressed borrowers.
“It is a key example of the Government’s ongoing commitment to work with people in mortgage difficulty to help them remain in their homes.
“In addition to Abhaile, the Government has also put in place a number of safeguards for those at risk of losing their homes due to mortgage arrears.
“These include the introduction of the Personal Insolvency Acts and the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform (Amendment) Act 2019, as well as the establishment of the Insolvency Service of Ireland.
“I would urge anyone experiencing mortgage arrears difficulties to reach out for help and engage with the available supports.”
The 2023 Abhaile annual report is available at Gov.ie - Abhaile.
Notes
- Abhaile – the National Mortgage Arrears Resolution Service is overseen and funded by the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Justice.
- The service provides free financial and legal advice to borrowers and aims to put in place solutions to their arrears that will keep them in their homes.
- Since its establishment in 2016 to the end of 2023, Abhaile had assisted over 28,800 borrowers and 24,000 households. Of these people, 35% had a solution either in place or on trial, while almost 45% were progressing to a solution. In 2024, at least 1,400 borrowers were supported by the Abhaile service from January to the end of September.
- In 2023, over 3,000 borrowers, from over 2,400 households, received advice and support from Abhaile. Of these people, almost half had a solution or trial solution, while close to 30% were in progress to one.
- While mortgage arrears have reduced significantly, at the end of 2023, over 16,550 accounts were in arrears of more than two years, the target group for Abhaile. Over half of these were in arrears of greater than five years.
- Information on Abhaile is available at Abhaile.