Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Question 266: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the criteria for the approval of mortgage interest supplement in order to include relief for those who have been disallowed mortgage interest relief because the rate of interest they pay is higher than current limits allow. [29996/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The purpose of the 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.

At the end of December 2010 there were 17,974 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement, an increase of 337% over the 2007 figure. There are currently over 18,500 households benefiting from the scheme for which €77.2m has been allocated for 2011.

The community welfare service (CWS), and the community welfare officers providing it, transferred formally to the Department of Social Protection (DSP) from 1 October 2011. The service and the staff are now part of the DSP.

Under the rules governing mortgage interest supplement, it is a condition of entitlement that the amount of the mortgage interest payable by the claimant does not exceed what the Department's representative considers reasonable to meet his or her residential needs.

However, legislative provisions are already in place that allows a Department's representative to award a mortgage interest supplement to a claimant on a discretionary basis for a maximum period of 12 months where the amount of mortgage interest exceeds what the Department's representative considers reasonable to meet his or her residential and other needs. When making a decision in relation to payment of mortgage interest supplement on a discretionary basis, a number of factors have to be considered, including: - Whether there is an indication that the claimant will be in a position to re-assume responsibility for repayments in the near future; - Where the claimant's interest repayment liability combined with projected reduction in interest rates indicate that the interest repayments on the loan may be reduced in the near future and may come into line with local rent or mortgage interest limits; - In accordance with the statutory Code of Conduct on Mortgage Arrears the claimant has re-negotiated and reached an agreement with the lender for a re-scheduling of the mortgage repayments and capitalisation of any arrears which have accrued.

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 267: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will recognise the societal contribution made by carers by reclassifying the carer's allowance to ensure carers remain eligible for PRSI contribution stamps while exercising their role as carers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30002/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Government is acutely aware and appreciative of the societal contribution made by carers and recognises this in social welfare provision. The estimated expenditure for carers in 2011, including carer's allowance, carer's benefit and respite care grant is approximately €658 million compared to just under €100 million in 2000. This does not include the cost of the household benefits package or free travel which carers also receive.

Since the introduction of the carer's allowance in 1990 payments to carers have been increased and expanded greatly. Even with the reductions announced in the last two budgets for carers under 66, the weekly rate of payment for the carers allowance is still almost 33% higher this year than in 2005 and almost double what it was in 2000.

Recipients of carer's allowance are also eligible for household benefits, free travel and the respite care grant of €1,700.

The means test for carer's allowance has been significantly eased over the years, and is now one of the most generous means tests in the social welfare system, most notably with regard to spouse's earnings. Since April 2008, the income disregard has been €332.50 per week for a single person and €665 per week for a couple. This means that a couple with two children can earn in the region of €35,400 and qualify for the maximum rate of carer's allowance as well as the associated free travel and household benefits. A couple with an income in the region of €59,300 can still qualify for a minimum payment, as well as the associated free travel, household benefits package. These levels ensure that those on average industrial earnings continue to qualify for a full carer's allowance.

The carer's allowance is an income support provided for those who are unable to take up full-time paid employment due to their caring responsibilities. It is not possible simply to reclassify it as earned income, subject to PRSI contributions. Persons in receipt of carer's allowance, carer's benefit and the respite care grant may, however, engage in employment, self employment, training or education outside the home for up to15 hours per week and still be considered to be providing full-time care and attention for the purposes of the schemes. This means that where a carer remains in employment he or she will continue to pay the appropriate social insurance contribution. Also, any person, including carers, may pay voluntary contributions once they satisfy certain qualifying conditions.

People who qualify for payments such as carer's allowance or carer's benefit may, subject to conditions, qualify for credited contributions for the period they are receiving the payment.

Credited contributions form an integral part of the social insurance system. They are underwritten by the Social Insurance Fund and are designed to protect the social insurance entitlement record of insured workers who – for reasons relating to incapacity, ill-health, unemployment, early retirement, professional training or the provisions of care (i.e. for children, the disabled or the elderly) – are not in a position to make PRSI payments.

In addition, the social welfare pension rights of those who take time out of the workforce for caring duties are protected by the homemaker's scheme which was introduced in1994. The scheme allows up to 20 years spent caring for children or incapacitated adults to be disregarded when a person's social insurance record is being averaged for pension purposes.

The homemaker's scheme will not of itself qualify a person for a pension. The standard qualifying conditions, which require a person to enter insurance 10 years before pension age, pay a minimum of 260 contributions at the correct rate (rising to 520 from April 2012), and achieve a yearly average of at least 10 contributions on their record from the time they enter insurance until they reach pension age, must also be satisfied.