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Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004

Thursday, 28 October 2004

Questions (251, 252, 253)

Beverley Flynn

Question:

250 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons and the amount awarded to them by way of rent allowance or mortgage supplement in 2003 and the estimated figures for 2004; and the breakdown as per local authority or health board area. [26438/04]

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Beverley Flynn

Question:

257 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons and the total amount paid to them by way of rent allowance or mortgage supplement in 2003 and estimated for 2004; and the break down as per local authority area or health board area. [26534/04]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 257 together.

Subject to certain conditions, the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards, provides for the payment of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of rent or mortgage interest to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.

Recipient numbers and expenditure on rent and mortgage interest supplement, categorised by health board, in respect of 2003 and to date in 2004 are set out in the following tabular statements.

Table 1: Rent/Mortgage Interest Supplement details for 2003.

Rent Supplement

Mortgage Interest Supplement

Health Board

Recipients*

Expenditure

Recipients*

Expenditure

€m

€m

ERHA

25,523

176.497

1,714

3.673

MHB

2,319

11.158

95

0.191

MWHB

4,348

18.767

284

0.482

NEHB

3,374

15.962

300

0.544

NWHB

2,738

9.364

146

0.190

SEHB

6,190

28.553

427

0.739

SHB

8,985

41.531

595

1.272

WHB

6,499

29.638

372

0.572

Total

59,976

331.470

3,933

7.663

* Recipient numbers reflect position at end of December 2003.
Expenditure figure reflects the actual cumulative figure for the year.
Table 2: Rent/Mortgage Interest Supplement details for 2004**

Rent Supplement

Mortgage Interest Supplement

Health Board

Recipients*

Expenditure

Recipients*

Expenditure

€m

€m

ERHA

25,566

157.903

1,489

2.419

MHB

2,107

8.862

73

0.118

MWHB

4,106

16.025

244

0.317

NEHB

2,895

11.892

239

0.335

NWHB

2,462

7.924

130

0.150

SEHB

5,900

24.079

371

0.544

SHB

8,351

34.406

520

0.885

WHB

5,927

24.135

309

0.392

Total

57,314

285.226

3,375

5.16

** Recipient numbers reflect position at 22/10/04. Expenditure is cumulative to 22/10/04 and is provisional only, subject to final account reconciliation.

Beverley Flynn

Question:

251 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if it his intention to introduce social welfare provisions or adjust existing provisions in advance of the budget for 2005. [26439/04]

View answer

Changes to social welfare schemes and services are normally announced in the context of the annual estimates and budget. The Abridged Estimates Volume will be published within a few weeks while the budget will be announced shortly after 1 December next.

As I have already stated in the House, I am committed to delivering on the social welfare commitments contained in An Agreed Programme for Government, Sustaining Progress and the national anti-poverty strategy. I am engaged in meeting a wide variety of community and voluntary groups to hear their concerns. I am also examining a range of proposals for improvements in social welfare arrangements in consultation with my officials and my plans in this regard should be finalised shortly.

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