Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of mortgage interest supplement; and the criteria for awarding same. [40081/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are currently over 18,900 households benefiting from the mortgage interest supplement scheme for which €77.2m has been allocated for 2011.

A person may be entitled to a supplement towards the amount of mortgage interest payable in respect of his or her residence provided that:

· The loan agreement was entered into at a time when, in the opinion of the Department, the person was in a position to meet the repayments.

· The residence in respect of which the loan is payable, is not offered for sale

· He or she is habitually resident in the State

The Department must be satisfied in all cases that:

· The amount of the mortgage interest payable by the claimant does not exceed such amount as the Department considers reasonable to meet his or her residential and other needs.

· It is reasonable to award a supplement having regard to the amount of any arrears outstanding on the loan.

Budget 2012 announced changes to the mortgage interest supplement scheme. The minimum contribution that all households are required to pay has been increased by €6 to €30 per week for a single person. The minimum contribution payable for all couples categories will be increased by a further €5, to €35 per week.

Receipt of mortgage interest supplement will also be deferred for 12 months while the person engages with the Mortgage Arrears Resolution Process. This approach is consistent with the recommendations of the Mortgage Arrears and Personal Debt Group and the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Mortgage Arrears.