The Government has admitted that home repossession cases in the Circuit Court cannot be heard by judges because there are too many cases.

Fianna Fáil Senator Thomas Byrne has hit out over the admission and said it is wrong on many levels.

Senator Byrne commented: "Of the 8164 repossessions applied for in 2014 in the Circuit Court, practically all cases will be heard and decided upon not by a Judge but by a Court Official. The vast majority of the people whose homes are at risk have no legal representation or support going through this process. County Registrars have constitutionally limited powers and in normal circumstances would limit their role to minor and procedural issues.

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"Putting someone out of their home is not a minor or procedural issue - it is in many cases the most traumatic life event that these people will face. The idea that it has become so common place that these families are just processed as a matter of course with no judicial input is an indictment of the lack of interest the Government has shown in trying to help people stay in their homes."

(CD/MH)