Fine Gael has been accused of neglecting homeowners in mortgage arrears.

Fianna Fáil TD and Chair of the Housing and Homelessness Committee, John Curran, has called for more measures to be taken to ensure the protection of 2,000 homeowners that are in arrears but in receipt of the soon-to-be abolished, Mortgage Interest Supplement.

The scheme was discontinued to new entrants from 01 January 2014, however those availing of the supplement prior to 01 January 2014 have been able to retain entitlement to the scheme up to 01 January next year.

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Deputy Curran said: "The Minister has expressed little but a 'not my problem' attitude. His repeated reference to direct distressed home owners in arrears to the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MAB) shows how out of the loop he is in terms of people living in arrears.

"Families have been left deeply affected due to home repossession and while the work of MABS is an important element of the support needed, it is nowhere near a viable alternative or long-term solution for stressed borrowers.

"The Mortgage-to-Rent scheme has blatantly failed to address the mortgage arrears issue to date. There are 43,000 home mortgages in arrears for over one year, yet just 217 Mortgage-to-Rent transactions have been completed.

"Despite the Minister's belief, the Government's Mortgage to Rent Scheme does not have the capacity to act as an exit strategy for those in mortgage arrears.

"Rather than focus on assisting homeowners in serious mortgage arrears the government is hammering those struggling to keep their heads above the water with the abolition of this vital payment."

(CD/JP)