Sir, – I read with interest Conor Pope's article "Distressed borrowers share their stories" (April 4th), regarding a public meeting in Portlaoise on April 2nd, which was called to highlight the plight of people facing repossession proceedings in Ireland.
The article described the very real human impacts that debt can have on individuals at a physical and mental level.
With regard to the specific issue of repossession, I wish to take this opportunity to highlight that legislation exists (the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2013) which allows the court to postpone repossession proceedings for up to two months to allow a person to explore the possibility of putting a debt solution in place, with the assistance of a personal insolvency practitioner. Many people going through the court process and facing repossession have already done this and have managed to remain in their home.
The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (Mabs) has staff at all court repossession hearings to ensure borrowers are aware of their rights.
I would encourage anyone struggling with unmanageable debt to take that first step and reach out to seek advice and assistance from a professionally qualified personal insolvency practitioner (backontrack.ie). – Yours, etc,
LORCAN O’CONNOR,
Director Insolvency
Service of Ireland,
Phoenix House,
Conyngham Road, Dublin 8.