Vol. 573 No. 3
723 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if discrepancy exists in the calculation of eligibility for mortgage support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is deemed to be narrowly ineligible having previously been disqualified on the grounds of inadequacy of information; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24816/03]
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards. The scheme allows for the payment of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of mortgage interest to eligible people in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence.
Mortgage interest supplements are subject to a means test. The amount payable is normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of mortgage interest, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his or her family circumstances, less a minimum contribution of €12 which recipients are required to pay from their own resources.
The person concerned receives the full maximum rate of unemployment benefit and in addition, has a private income of just over €50 per week. As her mortgage interest amounts to just under €20, she has a net income of more than €30 over and above the maximum rate of supplementary welfare allowance after she has paid her mortgage interest. Accordingly she does not qualify for a mortgage interest supplement under the terms of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
I am satisfied that the assessment of the individual's application has been carried out correctly in accordance with the regulations governing the payment of mortgage interest supplements.
724 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was last awarded unemployment assistance. [24949/03]
The person concerned was in receipt of an unemployment assistance payment until 22 September 2003. His claim is now closed as he informed the Department that he was taking up employment on that date.
