Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for mortgage interest supplement received between 1 January and 30 September 2009; the number of these applications that were refused; the most common reason for refusal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35314/09]

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applicants for rent supplement in each quarter in 2008 and to date in 2009; the number of households in receipt of rent supplement in each quarter of 2009; the number of households in receipt of mortgage interest supplement in each quarter of 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35641/09]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applicants for rent supplement during the past 12 months broken down by each quarter; the number of applicants who received rent supplement during the past 12 months broken down by each quarter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35681/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 306, 309 and 346 together.

The number of people who applied for and are in receipt of rent and mortgage interest supplement in 2008 and 2009 is provided in the following tabular statements.

Rent Supplement Claims Received and in Payment in 2008 and to September 2009

Notes

Claims registered include

claims not pursued by the applicant and

re-application where a rent supplement recipient moves to new accommodation.

Claim details are recorded electronically where it is established that rent supplement is payable. Where an appeal has been lodged, claim details are also recorded electronically.

Given the pressure on the community welfare service, claim details are not always recorded on the system where no entitlement has been established to rent supplement.

The difference between claims registered and claims awarded is not necessarily a refusal rate, for the reasons outlined above.

In these circumstances, fully reliable statistics are not available on the total number of people who applied for and were refused rent supplement.

Mortgage Interest Supplement

Claims Received and in Payment in 2008 and to September 2009

Notes

Claims registered include claims not pursued by the applicant.

Claim details are recorded electronically where it is established that rent supplement is payable. Where an appeal has been lodged, claim details are recorded electronically.

Given the pressure on the community welfare service, claim details are not always recorded on the system where no entitlement has been established to mortgage interest supplement.

The difference between claims registered and claims awarded is not necessarily a refusal rate, for the reasons outlined above.

In these circumstances, fully reliable statistics are not available on the total number of people who applied for and were refused mortgage interest supplement.

Reasons for refusal of mortgage interest supplement claims are not readily available. A survey of mortgage interest supplement claims, to be conducted shortly, will include an examination of refusal reasons.

Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 307: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when an allowance will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [35341/09]

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. It is a requirement of the rent supplement scheme that a person has been assessed as eligible for and in need of social housing support by the local housing authority in the area where the claim to rent supplement is made (and the person intends to reside), unless the person has been residing in the private rented sector or in accommodation for homeless people (or any combination of these) for a period of 183 days, within the preceding 12 months of the date of the claim for rent supplement.

The person concerned has been advised by the community welfare officer to apply to her local housing authority for an assessment of eligibility for social housing support. Only when she has been assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing support, will the person concerned become eligible for consideration for rent supplement.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 310: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork was refused a domiciliary care allowance; the mechanisms which are available to have this decision reviewed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35165/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In order to qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance a child must have a disability so severe that the child needs care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. This care and attention must be given by another person, effectively full time, so that the child can deal with the activities of daily living. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.

An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received by the Department on 29th June 2009. This application was referred to one of the Departments Medical Assessors who found that the child in question was not medically eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance. A letter issued to the person in question on 17th August 2009 where she was advised of the decision to refuse Domiciliary Care Allowance. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds, the applicant may submit additional information and/or ask for the case to be reviewed by a different Medical Assessor specially designated for this task.

The person in question requested a review of the decision to refuse Domiciliary Care Allowance on 18th August 2009. The application was reviewed by a different Medical Assessor who found that the child in question was not medically eligible for Domiciliary Care Allowance. A letter issued to the person in question on 21st August 2009 where she was advised of this decision. Where a person is not satisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer they may appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. No appeal has yet been received.