Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the most recent figures for the number of recipients and the cost to the Exchequer, of mortgage payment assistance; the budgeted Exchequer expenditure on mortgage payment assistance for each of the years 2008, 2009 and 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38825/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the Department, provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of mortgage interest. The purpose of the mortgage interest supplement is to provide short term income 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 6,930 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement, a 69% increase on the numbers receiving the supplement at the end of December 2007.

The published estimate of expenditure for mortgage interest supplement for 2008 is €14.4million, an increase of €2.2million on the 2007 expenditure. The current estimated cost of the mortgage interest supplement scheme for 2008 is €25.6million.

In the current economic climate and with falling interest rates, it is difficult to estimate expenditure into the future. The provisional estimate for 2009 is €29.6m. Expenditure on mortgage interest supplement is closely monitored on a monthly basis in the context of the Government's framework for reporting on public expenditure and estimates of future expenditure will be revised as appropriate. Estimated expenditure for 2010 will be formulated in the context of the 2010 Budget and taking into account trends in recipient numbers, average monthly mortgage interest payments and expenditure trends in 2009.