Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason mortgage support has been refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; if a full review will be undertaken in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22030/09]

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.

The Executive has advised that the person concerned applied for mortgage interest supplement in September 2008 but her claim was refused as her total income from one-parent family payment, jobseekers benefit and maintenance payments was deemed to be sufficient to meet her mortgage interest payment. If her circumstances have changed she should contact the community welfare officer at her local health centre and renew her application for mortgage interest supplement.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will restore full payment of illness benefit to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the full entitlement for a person in such circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22031/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned was referred for a medical examination which was scheduled for 16/04/09. She failed to attend and her illness benefit was suspended for 4 weeks from 21/04/09. However her reason for not attending was accepted and her entitlement to payment has been restored. Illness benefit arrears of €425.00 have been issued by cheque dated 26/05/09.

This payment was calculated as follows: From Date To Date Weeks/days Weekly Rate Amount Due 21/04/09 18/05/09 4 weeks €117.80 €471.20.

The balance of €46.20 (€471.20 less €425.00) was initially withheld to refund Supplementary Welfare Allowance payments. It subsequently came to light that these payments related to a period outside the arrears period and as such, the balance of €46.20 will be issued without delay.

The claim to illness benefit of the person concerned is from 31/07/08. Under current regulations, the rate payable depends on a person's reckonable earnings in the governing contribution year. As she had no reckonable earnings in 2006 (the contribution year governing her claim), she qualifies for the minimum graduated rate of illness benefit which is currently €117.80 (€91.80 personal rate + € 26.00 child dependant allowance rate).

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 166: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when an increase in rent support will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22033/09]

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 person concerned recently advised the community welfare officer of a change in her circumstances and her entitlement to rent supplement was reviewed. The Executive has indicated that the person concerned has now been advised of her new rate of rent supplement.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when mortgage support will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22037/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The position remains as advised in Parliamentary Questions 361 which I answered for the Deputy on 28th April 2009. The Health Service Executive has advised that an application for mortgage interest supplement from the person concerned has been refused. He was notified of this decision and also advised of his right of appeal against this decision to an Appeals Officer of the Executive. The Executive has further advised that to date, no appeal has been received from the person concerned.