Joe Costello
Ceist:392 Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons in receipt of mortgage interest supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9117/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 23 February 2010
Ceisteanna (334, 335, 336, 337, 338, 339, 340)
Freagraí scríofa
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA) provides for a supplement to be paid in respect of mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme is administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department.
The purpose of mortgage interest supplement is to provide short term 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. The supplement assists with the interest portion of the mortgage repayments only.
There are currently just over 15,400 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement, compared to 8,091 recipients in 2008, an increase of 91% in just over twelve months. Expenditure for the years ending December 2009 and December 2008 was €60.7m, and €27.7m respectively, a 119% increase year on year in terms of outturn.
There is a review of the administration of the mortgage interest scheme in progress. The main purpose of the review is to examine how the scheme can best meet its objective of catering for those who require assistance on a short-term basis, where they are unable to meet mortgage interest repayments on their sole place of residence.
The review group includes representatives from the Department, the Community Welfare Service, the Departments of Finance, Environment, Heritage and Local Government together with a representative from the Office of the Financial Regulator. The group is examining trends in programme and administrative costs, the impact of the Financial Regulator's statutory Code of Practice on Mortgage Arrears on the mortgage interest supplement scheme and legislative and operational issues arising, including the cap on hours of employment.
The review is also considering whether alternative approaches to achieving the scheme's objectives are warranted in the light of recent changes in the economic climate and the mortgage market. The full review should be completed in the coming weeks and the ensuing report will be available for publication in April 2010.
As part of this review, following consultation with the community welfare service, guidelines on specific and immediate operational issues for the community welfare officers operating the scheme have been finalised and were issued in June 2009. The guidelines are available on the Department's website www.welfare.ie
Jack Wall
Ceist:393 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kildare did not receive all arrears of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9119/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
Michael Ring
Ceist:394 Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and paid jobseeker’s allowance. [9137/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
John McGuinness
Ceist:395 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an application for one parent family payment will be expedited and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [9138/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
Terence Flanagan
Ceist:396 Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding the case of persons (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9140/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
Jack Wall
Ceist:397 Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be furnished with a social welfare statement for 2008; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9144/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.
Tom Sheahan
Ceist:398 Deputy Tom Sheahan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be awarded jobseeker’s allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9163/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to staff action currently being taken, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.