Darragh O'Brien (Dublin North, Fianna Fail)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will ensure that the application for assistance with mortgage payment for a person (details supplied) in County Dublin is processed. [41962/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes mortgage interest supplement, is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive.

Mortgage interest supplement provides 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.

The Health Service Executive has advised that it has no record of an application for mortgage interest supplement from the person concerned. He should contact the community welfare service directly in order to make an application for mortgage interest supplement.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded and granted jobseekers' allowance. [41980/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance on 10 October 2008. He had been employed for a short period as a driver with a transport firm and was previously self-employed. Following an interview by a Social Welfare Inspector on 14 October, 2008, he was requested to provide documentation regarding his earnings, bank deposits and proof of address. When all of the requested information is received a decision will be made and he will be notified of the outcome.

Under Social Welfare legislation decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when child benefit will be granted in the case of a person (detail supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42082/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In order to qualify for a range of Social Welfare payments, including Child Benefit, applicants are required to satisfy the Habitual Residence condition (HRC), which was introduced on 1st May 2004.

The HRC requires the applicant to satisfy the Deciding Officer that they meet certain conditions, including that their centre of interest is in Ireland and that their future intentions, as demonstrated, are to remain in Ireland.

The person concerned is a Moldovan national and is still awaiting a final decision from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on her residency application. The Child Benefit application was refused on 24th May 2008 as the Deciding Officer, having considered all the circumstances, did not consider that the person concerned satisfied the HR condition as her centre of interest and future intentions to remain here were uncertain.

The person concerned was notified of the decision in writing on 24th May 2008 and given the right of appeal. To date no appeal has been received.