Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
631. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Social Protection if it is the case that a review of all cases of mortgage interest supplement payments took place earlier this year; if she will confirm that new thresholds have been introduced; the details of the review including the number of previously eligible recipients who became ineligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16881/13]
View answerMortgage interest supplement (MIS) provides short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence. There are currently approximately 13,000 mortgage interest supplement recipients for which the Government has provided some €42 million for in 2013. Following the Department’s review of the administrative, policy and legal aspects of the mortgage interest supplement scheme and the review of the Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Review Group, changes were made to the scheme in 2012. To ensure that those who are in mortgage difficulty engage with their lender under the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process (MARP) and avail of its forbearance arrangements, from June 2012 the mortgage interest supplement is not payable until applicants have agreed with their lender and complied with an alternative payment arrangement for a cumulative period of not less than 12 months. This process acknowledges that it is in the interest of both the lender and the borrower to address financial difficulties as speedily and effectively as circumstances allow.
In December 2012, to facilitate people who wish to trade down or downsize, the condition which provided that entitlement to mortgage interest supplement should be discontinued where the property is offered for sale was removed. The removal of this condition will allow persons to engage in selling their residence and remain eligible for mortgage interest supplement, subject to the other conditions of the scheme.
The Department has not carried out a review of all mortgage interest supplement cases earlier this year, however claims are reviewed on an on-going basis as part of the control of the scheme.
