Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 983: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when mortgage relief will be reinstated to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1793/09]

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 Executive has advised that the position remains as advised to the Deputy on 4 December 2008 i.e. the person concerned is not entitled to mortgage interest supplement as her combined income from employment, one-parent family payment and family income supplement is sufficient to meet the interest on her mortgage. The person concerned did not appeal against this decision on her claim for mortgage interest supplement.

The Executive has further advised that the person concerned has not been in recent contact with the community welfare officer in relation to her claim for mortgage interest supplement. If her circumstances have recently changed, she should contact the community welfare officer at her local health centre.