Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the legislative provisions under which a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 was awarded only half rate mortgage interest supplement; if she will examine this case as an example of the dilemma facing certain home-owners who have lost their job and through personal circumstances cannot fund their mortgage; and if she will ensure that the appeal in this case is heard as a priority before further arrears build up. [18040/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme provides for a supplement to be paid in respect of mortgage interest to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme is administered by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive on behalf of the department. The purpose of mortgage interest supplement scheme is to provide short term 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. Article 12(2) of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Regulations 2007 (S.I. 412 of 2007) provides that the amount of mortgage interest supplement payable in any case shall not exceed such amount as the Executive considers reasonable to meet the residential needs of the claimant.

Where two people enter into a joint mortgage agreement there is an obligation on both parties to meet repayments, as agreed with the financial institution. The fact that one of the joint mortgage holders is not resident in the property and/or does not contribute to the mortgage repayments, does not remove the obligation on that person to meet that part of the loan repayment which is reasonably attributable to him/her. It is not considered appropriate that the Exchequer should provide assistance towards the accumulation of a capital asset on the part of the absent/non contributing party to a mortgage agreement.

Where a person residing in the property becomes the sole mortgage holder, a mortgage interest supplement can be considered in respect of such amount as a community welfare officer considers reasonable to meet the person's accommodation needs up to the full amount of interest payable. Where the person resident in the property continues as a joint mortgage holder, a mortgage interest supplement payment is considered in respect of half of the interest on the mortgage. However, the community welfare officer may take into account the circumstances of each individual case and in particular where a person resident in a property is seeking to become the sole mortgage holder.

The Executive has advised that the person concerned has been awarded mortgage interest supplement in respect of her half of the mortgage. She has appealed against this decision to a HSE Appeals Officer. The Executive will be in direct contact with the person concerned when a decision has been made on her appeal.