Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 82: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which he will commit himself to the protection of those victims of the economic downturn who now find themselves unemployed with mortgage arrears, increased costs, an uncertain future and family budget concerns for 2011; if he will set out specific targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43829/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a number of supports to assist people who find themselves unemployed, which range from primary payments, such as jobseeker's benefit and assistance, to additional supports such as mortgage interest supplement, exceptional needs payments and back to school allowance. The mortgage interest supplement scheme 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 portion of the mortgage repayments only.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme an exceptional needs payment may be made to help meet an essential, once off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources.

The purpose of the back to school allowance is to help towards the cost of children's school uniforms and footwear at the beginning of the school year. The scheme is administered by the Health Service Executive and operates from the beginning of June to the end of September each year.

Social welfare expenditure for 2011 will be considered in the context of the forthcoming Budget, having regard both to needs and to the resources available to meet those needs. In an uncertain economic environment, my priority will be to ensure that the Government strategy to stabilise the financial position is advanced and to protect those most in need in a manner which is sustainable in the years ahead.