Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of claimants currently in receipt of rent supplement, mortgage interest supplement and the household benefit package benefits in County Donegal, in nominal terms and as a percentage of persons on the live register in County Donegal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40922/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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At the end of December 2011 there were 2,977 people in receipt of Rent Supplement in County Donegal, a fall of over 6% from the end of December 2010, when there were 3,194 people in receipt of Rent Supplement in County Donegal. 47% or 1,413 of the 2,977 people currently on Rent Supplement in County Donegal are on either Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit. These represent less than 7% of the numbers on the Live Register in Donegal.

At the end of December 2011 there were 434 people in receipt of Mortgage Interest Supplement in County Donegal, an increase of 18% from the end of December 2010, when there were 367 people in receipt of Mortgage Interest Supplement in County Donegal.74% or 320 of the 434 people currently on Mortgage Interest Supplement in County Donegal are on either Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit. These represent less than 2% of the numbers on the Live Register in Donegal.

The number of persons in County Donegal in receipt of payments under the Household Benefits scheme is 18,099. The number of Household Benefits recipients includes persons whose primary income is derived from sources other than schemes included on the live register. It would therefore be inappropriate to express these figures as a percentage of persons on the live register.

The table sets out by scheme the number of persons currently on the live register in County Donegal.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 356: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons currently on the live register in County Donegal who receive less than the maximum personal weekly rate, who receive no payment at all, who receive payment for part of the week and who receive jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit at less than the maximum personal rate, and to detail these figures in nominal terms and as a percentage of the total number of persons currently on the live register for County Donegal. [40923/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The information requested by the Deputy is not routinely collated by my Department and for that reason, it is not possible in the time available to provide the requested information specifically in relation to County Donegal. However on a national basis, the following is the position:

Just over half (51%) of the people on the Live Register receive less than the maximum personal weekly rate:

17% receive no payment. This includes people signing on for PRSI credits only, people whose claims have been suspended for any reason and people who have recently lodged new claims which have not yet been decided.

18% receive payment for part of the week only

A further 16% receive Jobseekers' Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit of less than the maximum personal rate of €188.00

The table sets out by scheme and local office the number of persons currently signing on the live register at local offices in County Donegal. It should be kept in mind that a local office may serve customers from adjacent counties as well as the county in which the local office is located, particularly if the office is located close to the border between two counties.