Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when rent support will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19710/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Rent Supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The Executive has advised that payment of rent supplement and arrears due from 1 January 2009, was made to the person concerned on 30 March 2009.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will support a matter (details supplied). [19772/09]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9. [19696/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 327 together.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes mortgage interest supplement, is administered on behalf of the department by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive. The mortgage interest supplement scheme is designed to help those who have difficulty meeting their mortgage repayment schedule where their means are insufficient to meet their needs. The scheme provides a short-term "safety net" within the overall social welfare scheme to ensure that people do not suffer hardship due to loss of employment. A supplement may be paid in respect of mortgage interest only, to eligible people in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence.

There are currently over 11,900 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement, an increase of 190% over the number in payment at end 2007. "Mortgage interest" is defined in Section 14 of the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2008. In accordance with this definition, only the portion of mortgage interest that relates to the purchase, essential repair or improvement of a person's sole or main residence is taken into account in assessing entitlement to mortgage interest supplement.

The Executive has advised that the person concerned has re-mortgaged his home a number of times, not all of which related to the purchase, essential repair or improvement of his sole or main residence. In these circumstances, the person concerned was awarded mortgage interest supplement of €42 per week based on interest payable on his original loan application relating to his main residence. The person concerned appealed against this decision to an Appeals Officer of the Executive but this appeal was unsuccessful. He now has a further right of appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. It is also open to the person concerned to provide any new or additional documentary evidence of expenditure of mortgage funds on improvements to his home and seek a review of his entitlement to mortgage interest supplement.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 319: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when rent support will be reinstated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20209/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. The Executive has advised that, while the person concerned had been in receipt of rent supplement, payment was discontinued on his return to work. The person concerned should contact the community welfare officer at his local health centre to discuss his current entitlement, if any, to rent supplement.