A ROUND table discussion facilitated by Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) with policy experts and service providers took place in Letterkenny about their report, ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place’.
The new report shines a light on a side of the defective concrete block crisis that the public rarely sees: families who are also in mortgage arrears.
Elizabeth Wilson, dedicated mortgage arrears adviser, North Connacht and Ulster MABS, Letterkenny, Anthony Doheny, business manager, MABS Support, Dr Stuart Stamp, author and independent social researcher and research associate, Maynooth University, Eileen Magnier, retired north west correspondent for RTE, and Maria McCaul, national development officer, MABS Support, at the launch ‘Between a Rock and a Hard Place’.
On the day, the report was presented by the authors, and the group were given a tour of the area, heard client voices and discussed the recommendations. The purpose of the day was to finalise the research with discussion of the practical implementation of the report’s recommendations from an apolitical position. Wider stakeholder engagement will now follow.
This is a growing problem in an increasing number of regions in Ireland and an important issue to address as a matter of priority across multiple policy dimensions.
