Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 4 Mar 1998

Vol. 488 No. 2

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Ben Briscoe

Question:

169 Mr. Briscoe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of recipients and total value of payments under social welfare allowance rental subsidy in each of the last two years and in 1998; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5993/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Details on the total value of payments under the supplementary welfare allowance rent and mortgage supplement schemes for the years 1996 and 1997 are shown in the following tabular statement. Estimates for 1998 are also shown. In 1996, 76,634 people received rent supplements and 15,658 received mortgage interest supplements. It is estimated that a similar number of people received those supplements in 1997 and no significant change is expected in 1998. Despite this, expenditure on rent supplements has increased substantially. This has been mainly driven by increases in rent levels.

In July 1994, following concern caused by the escalating costs in relation to rent and mortgage interest supplements a review group was established by Government to report to the Minister for Social Welfare on the role of SWA in relation to housing. The group was comprised of representatives of the Departments of Social Welfare, Health, the Environment and Finance, health boards and local authorities. The group presented its findings in December 1995.

Following the publication of the Housing Review Group report, an interdepartmental committee was established under the aegis of the Department of the Environment and Local Govenment, with representatives from the Departments of Health and Children, Social, Community and Family Affairs, and Finance, to examine the implications of transferring the administration of rent and mortgage interest supplements to local authorities. It is understood that the committee will report shortly.

Expenditure

Year	Rent	Mortgage Interest	Total	Total SWA
	£m	£m	£m	£m
1996	64.2	10.4	74.6	154.1
1997*	75.3	10.1	85.4	175.7
1998e	96.0	11.0	107.0	223.8

*Provisional outturn

eEstimated