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JUST 40 HOUSES have been purchased through the government’s mortgage-to-rent scheme since its launch in 2012.
David Hall, Director of the Irish Mortgage Holders’ Organisation (IMHO), has sharply criticised the scheme, saying: “The entire system is rubbish.”
“Basically, in a nutshell, you know something is failing when it’s cheaper for a bank to repossess a house than it is to participate in the mortgage-to-rent scheme … It’s absolutely catastrophic.”
Hall noted that half of the 40 deals completed went through the IMHO.
He said that Housing Minister Jan O’Sullivan needed to arrange a meeting between all relevant parties to try and solve the problem: banks; housing associations; borrowers and groups like the IMHO.
On foot of recommendations in the Keane Report on mortgage arrears, the government rolled out the scheme in February 2012 before extending it nationally the following June.
The scheme enables mortgage holders to remain in their home, while ownership is transferred to an approved housing body who in turn rents it to the original owners.
To date, 2,458 cases have been put forward by the lenders and 1,458 of these are being progressed. Some 798 have been approved for customer contact.
40 cases have been completed with households paying a differential rent to their local authority. A further 72 sales have been agreed and another 27 are under offer. An additional 98 are at the valuation stage in the process.
A total of 235 applications have been received from applicants for social housing support. Of these, 207 have qualified for it, while 6 have not. The remaining 22 applications are awaiting assessment.
Under the scheme, Dublin properties must be bought for less than €220,000 and homes outside of the capital for less than €180,000.
Hall said the scheme was the “most unique set of circumstances you’ll ever find in mortgage arrears” and, if arranged properly, could see a situation where “everyone wins”.
He added that the failure of the scheme was “sickening” as if affects “the most vulnerable borrowers, who everyone agrees are goosed”.
In April, banks told the Oireachtas Finance Committee that they have sent letters to about 30,000 homeowners threatening repossessions.
Speaking in the Dáil recently, O’Sullivan said that the system was aimed at “low income families whose mortgage situation is unsustainable and where there is little or no prospect of a significant change in circumstances in the foreseeable future”.
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I actually think Ronan is a cool guy.
@Paul Gorry: I would actually prefer him in charge. I thought he was doing a very good job as acting C.M.O level headed and conscientious.
Dr Pierre Kory, Dr Robert Malone, Dr Tess Lawrie
Wow, Glynn is talking about misinformation today and the government had to roll out the AG to defend an party (at the time against recommendations), but not now. I think the government and all its advisory groups should take the rest of the weekend off. Then the government come back on Monday (with some balls) admit the mistakes, resign where resignations are due, i.e. Leo and Co. at the party. Martin to step down from FF and then we can move on. But not with this circus we’ve been treated to the last few days, like we’re children given a ‘sweet’ to forget. Shame on our government.
@Alan Wright: Maybe take the weekend off from politics yourself
@Alan Wright: sweet to forget was the black Jack yeah?but the fruit salad was always the calming one.
@Mickety Dee: so, you agree with the mess of information coming from the government the last few days?
@Alan Wright: The article is referring to the dangerous misinformation around vaccinations and covid19 not so much about the government and the breach of guidelines.
For clarification in my opinion Leo should resign, deeply upset that he has changed public health guidelines to save his political career. It’s a pandemic, this is people’s health. He should resign.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Yeah, and now we have the dangerous misinformation (oh sorry, “clarification”) from the AG, an FG appointment. You need to grow up.
@Alan Wright: you do realise the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, which is a civil service job, has nothing to do with the advise or appointment of a politically appointed AG? Your comment is an example of what-if-ery to distract from the medical professions efforts to counter misinformation surrounding a pandemic/vaccine.
@Ally Mc Culladgh: Finally Ally an honest straightforward reply to the Leo debacle. Took a while but we got there. Have a good day:)
Straight up, if you are not an immunologist, virologist, or microbiologist and you think that your ‘research’ watching z-lister personalities giving out about the ‘gubbermint’ and railing on about the ‘conshitushun’ thinks your opinion outweighs scientific consensus, then, please, refund me the tax money I have wasted on your education
@The Risen: The “Education” on YouTube is free , unless you pay subscriptions or donations to these the Conspiracy theorists
@Kevin Thompson: he clearly means the tax money spent on Irelands education system.
If you belief the conspiracy theories the Irish education system failed you basically.
@The Risen: my other half worked on managing clinical trial data for vaccines and when you see the claims these nutters come up with it’s hilarious. Every bit of data is scrutinised. Every possible side effect is investigated. If someone died in a car crash, it has to be documented. If you get an ingrown toenail it has to be ruled out as a side effect. But of course according to the nutters everyone involved in the process is involved in the conspiracy. If true, where are all the benefits my wife is due?!
@The Risen: You have zero followers on Twitter and a typical pro government nasty comment. People have genuine concerns and are genuinely looking for ways to make everybody safer.
The tests are not fit for purpose.
People who catch covid should be allowed the best treatment out there. Proper safe treatment is being suppresses in favour of a vaccine that has not proved itself to be a safe option.These are not conspiracy theories but facts and that’s why you hide behind a fake account to ignorantly debunk them.
@Ronan Flanagan: what treatments are being surpressed? If people go to hospital are they not treated? Isn’t prevention better than cure? And what makes the vaccines unproven or unsafe?
@Ronan Flanagan: I sympathise with your rare aberration in the genetic code of the human species.
@Mark H: that is my concern in this real world phase of an emergency vaccine. How fast that detailed investigation of possible side effects cases can be done in the real world? With thousands of kids getting their jabbs in such short period of time, by the time side effects are reported, investigated and added as side effects it might be too late for many vaccinated children who were not at risk of covid 19.
@Rosa Lopez: they were tested and went through same trials as any medicine. My wife worked on trials for other MNRA vaccines in her job, so technology is new but not brand new…
https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-factcheck-vaccines-clinical-trials-idUSKBN2A22D3
@Barry Somers: i don’t believe in the conspiracy theories, it is call sacrasm
@Ronan Flanagan: If you think The Risen is ‘pro government’ then you haven’t been using The Journal website for long. I have my differences with The Risen, but beyond SF and Northern Ireland, I can’t fault his or her comments here. They almost always are informed, articulate and rational comments.
Half of them you will find right here!
@Paul Cunningham: do you get all your info from Journal fact-checks?
Unfortunately the lockdown has exacerbated some mental health issues which have manifested themselves.as conspiracy theorists, anti-vaxxers etc.
@Mickety Dee: and some are being branded for calling out bullsh*t. And there’s a fair amount of bull being sent out by the gov. I love science and we need challenge some of the science that’s being presented. That’s how science is built! Each theory stands on the shoulders of the previous theory. It not all written in stone.
@Shneak: While that is the scientific method, the problem is that most of the challenging is not based on solid science and data. We’ll understand this pandemic years down the road. Now we’re trying just to stay ahead of the worst effects to just slow it down and buy time for better and more refined strategies. This virus and its variants could be with us for a very long time if we all don’t take it very seriously.
@Shneak: unless you’re a doctor your opinion doesn’t matter the educated are debating these things
What has been feeding this mistrust of the official narrative is that any kind of debate has been shut down or as David so well put, anyone who asks a valid question (even scientists and doctors) has been branded a conspiracy theorist, far right etc. Why has there been no public debate on any of this where a number of sides are presented and properly debated? Because there is no single right answer here. Not once in the media have I heard any of the narrative challenged and the media are just echo chambers for their guests. We are talking about a massive impact on citizens’ lives and they deserve open public debate as a minimum. Why wouldn’t people be sceptical when Pandemrix was also being touted as being “safe and effective” until it was removed and over 80 court cases for damages are still waiting for their day in court, 10 years later.
@Marie Ahern Martínez: asking valid questions and spewing nonsense are not the same thing, that’s just a watered down excuse. Science advances, no point in living in the 70′s
@Captain ‘Fully Pfizered’ Unsensible: so who decides what the valid questions are? Facebook checkers? Media Advertisers ? Government? My point is that there is no transparency as they have shut down all
Dialogue. This is unprecedented and what makes many people concerned. The only person with any platform to question things is TD Michael McNamara.
@Marie Ahern Martínez: I think that there has been plenty of debate/conversation about the vaccine. With all the vaccines, from all the research, there is massive upside with little downside. When you talk about “debate” what it sounds to me, is that you want to give a platform to fringe opinions and amplify them.
It is very easy to fall into the trap of “false balance” where you show both sides of an argument as equal when one side has a wealth of evidence and the other side is unproven and mainly innuendo.
The majority of the anti movement is coming from people who have no expertise within the fields of virology, immunology or public health (and in a lot of cases a tenuous tether to reality) or people with qualifications banging on the same drum although totally disproved (Ivermectin).
@Colm OS: my point exactly, put more eloquently
@Marie Ahern Martínez: Well said and you have made very valid points
@Colm OS: Bravo! The voice of reason is not lost after all.
Complete transparency, along with a common sense approach would generally eradicate the need for this type of article !
So why push it if we are almost at 80% vaccinated. ?
@conex: We must be close to peak vaccination levels now. They need to plan long term
@conex: They won’t be happy at anything under 100%
@Franky Jefferson: what it’s sounding like atm, is full vaccination plus constant booster shots too and if not, you’re not going to be able to participatein society. (For info: I’m fully vaccinated, all my family are too, I follow guidelines etc.).
@conex: we need 90 percent of population not just adults. We are around 56 percent of population fully vaccinated
@Lynn: I’ve read that both cats and gorilas can contract Covid. We need to vaccinate these also.
@Lynn: Problem is, we were told 80% from the start. Moving the goalposts just feeds the frustration.
@conex: Not a chance, folk like this look for the negative in everything and take every opportunity to spin the bull. Its just unfortunate that some get sucked in, most level headed people can see through it. I’ve seen enough to believe there are mental health or anti authority issues behind a lot of this, the pandemic is not the real issue.
@Tony Harris: actually, the figure quoted internationally is 85% vaccination for herd immunity, based on the virulence of the Delta variant, the value was revised, hence the perception of moving goal-posts, but those figures will always be somewhat approximate. The higher the % vaccinated the lower the probability of transmissions and breakthrough infections.
@JedBartlett: we routinely vaccinate every pet and farm animal for every disease they can get which is transmissible to humans, it has been done for ages already
@Daniela Monza: I was being sarcastic but how and ever. I’m sure NIAC will issue guidance in relation to tabby cats and goldfish pretty soon. If we include these, where do we now stand in terms of fully vaccinated?
So when people who the refuse the vaccine and catch covid with a need for icu treatment, will they then refuse to go to hospital. Power to the people stay consistent keep it real…
@Seymour business: Unfortunately, its the same argument for if: someone who drinks too much and ends up in a&e or someone on heroin (same story). People deep down know its wrong, but still entitled to medical care. If we stopped care, what society would we be?
@Alan Wright: USA Alan.
@Alan Wright: But there’s no vacine for acholism or drug addiction.
@Paul Gorry: ??? I’m Irish.
@Seymour business: True, but there is the argument, they can ‘just stop’, or: ‘they do it to themselves’ which we all know is not an answer. I’m just drawing parallel that people make a choice and as society, we will give them the medical care they need.
I just posted criticism of Varadkar and the AG over their recent behaviour and the Journal blocked it.
Freedom of expression guaranteed under United Nations charter is big no no for the Journal. Shutting down debate us a fascist ideology.
@Teresa Ryan: Of course you did. This tactic of posting about something you allegedly put in a comment and then miraculously it got deleted to suit your narrative is pretty obvious.
@Teresa Ryan: The journal is a private platform and a publisher, it therefore has to ensure that comments don’t cross the line into defamation, exposing it to litigation.
Any rights of freedom of speech, do not extend to a platform like the journal, for the same reason, they have the right in the terms and conditions everyone agrees to, to delete comments that they feel contravenes those terms and conditions, regardless of if they do or not.
@David Van-Standen: Incorrect on so many levels there David.
Yawn !!
The problem with this pre bunk approach is that even though its intention is to prevent misinformation, it ends up occupying a similar space to the other end of the info spectrum, from the 5g, Bill Gates microchip, mind control camp.
By its very nature, it not only attempts to preemptively negate the entirely crazy unfounded views of a minority, but also anyone that legitimately questions the narrative, added to this a group of willing acolytes that immediately ridicule, or denounce anyone as an antivaxxer, for questioning the narrative and its a ever bit as repressive as a religious or ideological driven doctrine. This is clearly visible in the way that acolytes are willing to span the titbits of science, with their faith in the narrative, or an assumption that others know best.
And it’s also worth pointing out that the creators of the narrative, are more than willing to allow misinformation to stand, when it forwards their agenda, specifically where it promises much more from vaccinations than even the pharmaceutical companies, they clearly stated vaccinations would only reduce the symptoms of covid.
But claims that people receiving vaccinations would result in full immunity from covid19, not need to wear masks and not be able to infect other vunerable family members, were allowed to gain traction, simply because this misinformation encouraged many people to get vaccinated, it was only after much highlighting and questioning of these misconceptions, by people that were roundly condemned as conspiracy theorists, that the truth was finally admitted.
@David Van-Standen: that was unqualified nonsense.
of course I’ll.be strung up.in garters for this comment but at what stage will they get rid of the vaccination passport or do people support them as a permanent feature. 10% of the irish population will never get them and for anyone zealotly provax that includes I’m sure family and friends that in pre covid times u liked and respected. Would people like to see us able to fully rejoin society at some stage, genuinely interested
@Mags Murphy: I’d imagine come end of September 90% will be vaxed and then they are saying heard immunity with that number so all should be able to dine as they please.
@Ann Morris Doolan: I like your optimism but I doubt it, it will be extended to entertainment arenas next and then it will be slithered into the employment sector
@Mags Murphy: Preface this with, if you choose not to be vaccinated, totally up to you and 100% your decision but.. I would see it as a bit selfish,
I got vaccinated not so much for myself (not in a high risk category) but for all the people who are high risk or not able to get it due to medical conditions etc.
Would love things to go back to pre-covid where people are safe and no restrictions but thats not where we are. and until we are to that point the unvaccinated shouldn’t get the same benefits as the vaccinated
@Mags Murphy: Mags, that’s is your choice. I don’t believe vaccines should be mandatory. However, this is a public health issue, not about whether you like people or not. Until this pandemic is under control, choosing not to be vaccinated comes with some restrictions
@Mags Murphy: and in fact, I would argue that if you are worried about taking the vaccine, and maybe want to wait to be sure about side effects, which is your prerogative of course, you should be the person most careful about wearing masks, social distancing and not being around people indoors, because you are the person most at risk. Why would you even want to be inside in large groups
The amount of experts out there that hardly set their junior certs is amazing.
I heard from an Englush friend that British anti vaxxers rely heavily on the fact that one expert is a Professor in an Irish University.
Will UCD be addressing this issue?
@Jonathan Mills: The picking and choosing of experts is mind numbing. These people spend their life on social media bereating public health specialists while happily lapping up nonsense from a clearly unhinged person and present it as absolute fact, because its what they want to hear.
Nefet should never have been aloud to take to the stage, doctors are doctors and not actor’s,
@Heisen berg1: nefet? Says it all really
I love that the deputy CMO says it is not a black or white situation, something I’ve been slated for saying here, particularly in relation to kids vaccines.
The government?
The human brain has barely evolved for hundreds of years. The people that believe the vaccine is 5g of that it has magnetic properties are the same people that gassed the Jews and burned witches. It would be ok if the kept the nonsense to themselves.
@Stephen Nix: interesting comparison. There is literally a hand full of loons who believe 5G nonsense, I don’t think they will organise leading to genocide. Dividing and polarising the entire population by not letting facts stand on their own merits and instead introducing compulsory vaccination by stealth is far more likely to lead to the analogy you use.
People don’t like the removal of freedom of choice- even as someone who is not anti vax I can see that.
@Stephen Nix: this is what we are dealing with ridiculous statements
have your say