Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

My first question concerned the collection of figures on the numbers applying for mortgage interest supplement. In the past, there have been difficulties getting figures for those who apply and those who have been refused. I am concerned about the different ways this is operated. The Minister says guidelines have been sent out, and perhaps they have, but I am still getting different responses as to why people are being refused and the length of time for getting it in some places. There does not appear to be any clear operation of this across the community welfare service.

When the Minister gets the report in the next few weeks, will there be changes in the operation of mortgage interest supplement? I do not know what will be in the report, but there are problems here that need to be tackled.

Has the Minister any view on the way the financial institutions are using the mortgage interest supplement? I have had people come to me who tell me the bank has told them it will not foreclose if they get mortgage interest supplement. When they are refused mortgage interest supplement, the banks treat them more harshly, although it was the bank who gave them the loan in the first place. The community welfare officer decides that person should never have got the loan, which is great with hindsight, but it leaves people in a difficult position. Has the Minister discussed this with the Minister for Finance? We are guaranteeing the banks but they are treating people harshly.

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