Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)

People only apply for mortgage interest supplement if they are in a dire situation and have lost their jobs. They are dealing with the ramifications for their families of reduction in income, including having to approach the bank and go through the MARPS process. We have nothing in place to assist people in dealing with these big institutions although there is talk of an insolvency Bill. We are now told that people will not be able to access mortgage interest supplement, which they will need on the first day they lose their jobs. It is not acceptable for a Labour Minister to consider doing this. I understand that 17,000 households accessed it in 2010. Originally it was a very small amount. Obviously it was introduced a number of years ago during the so-called Celtic tiger years as a protection for people. Now that that protection is needed it is being taken from them for the first 12 months they are unemployed. It is one of the most vicious and nastiest cuts we have seen in the Bill.

The change to jobseeker's allowance affects the most vulnerable. Many people are working three days a week and avail of the extra money they get in jobseeker's allowance. This has greatly helped them in being able to adjust to their changed circumstances. For such a small amount, why is this cut being made? This is a Bill of 100 little cuts across the board that are impacting people in their pockets at a time when they most need it. I ask the Minister to explain her need to do this or else remove it as otherwise we will oppose this section of the Bill.

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