Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 415: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on whether mortgage allowance payments should be ceased if the property in question is put up for sale. [31896/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes mortgage interest supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. The purpose of mortgage interest supplement is to provide short-term income support to people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments from their own resources in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence.

Under the legislation governing the scheme, mortgage interest supplement is not payable where the residence in respect of which the loan is payable, is offered for sale. Under these circumstances, it is not considered appropriate that the Exchequer should provide assistance towards the accumulation of a capital asset where an imminent capital return may be realised and where an alternative means of financing, such as agreement with the bank, can be reached during the sale period. In the circumstances, I do not consider the existing arrangements unreasonable.