Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

As I understand it, the Cooney group was due to report to the Minister by tomorrow. On behalf of the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, the Minister's colleague, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and I met with the Cooney group to discuss this issue. I have a concern in that whatever decisions the group reaches, the Minister's Department is solely responsible for the operation of the mortgage interest supplement scheme. The departmental review of this matter, which I understand is to be published soon, has been ongoing since the Minister's predecessor and her predecessor were in situ. In other words, three Ministers have overseen a review that has not as yet produced a report. Has any such report been completed and has it been seen by the Cooney group? It is difficult to see how the latter can come to any decisions without having at its disposal practical information as to the application, whether good or bad, of the mortgage interest supplement scheme. Has the group looked at the inconsistencies in the application of the scheme throughout the State? Colleagues and I are aware that different decisions are being made in different areas.

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