AN award-winning York-based company, is supporting key Irish insolvency and debt management organisations as they cope with the fallout from the country’s economic disaster.

Sawfish Software on the Middlethorpe Business Park, Bishopthorpe in Aviation Way has delivered its specialist DebtFlow software to a number of clients in the Republic to manage debt and offer advice to individuals affected by the country’s financial and property crisis.

The crisis facing the Irish economy has led to a major fall in the value of the housing market leaving many in negative equity and in arrears. Figures from June this year show 36,000 mortgages were in arrears of three months or more, with collective arrears of just over half a billion euros.

Companies, including Dublin-based Debt Plan Ireland and further clients in Cork, Killarney and Londonderry are now using the bespoke software package to manage the increasing number of debt cases every month.

The software is specifically-designed to handle the complex tasks of the insolvency industry on a large scale.

In addition to managing the debt and the process of organising terms with creditors, the technology also provides support to debtors. DebtFlow generates a range of debt management options and advice routes on a case-by-case basis derived from individuals’ personal circumstances.

Steve Hull, chief executive of Sawfish Software, which won the Best Use of Technology category at this year’s Credit Today Awards, said: “Our clients are dealing with the human face of the Irish economic crisis and are experiencing a dramatic influx of cases as unemployment and mortgage debt increases on an alarming scale.

“Insolvency and debt management companies cannot afford to be overwhelmed by their case load and are looking to Britain and providers like Sawfish, which can offer solutions that will not let anyone slip through the net.”

Founded in 2004, Sawfish Software supplies internet-based software to local authorities, healthcare providers and debt management companies, providing web-based technology for automating and managing best practice for profit.