Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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413. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the procedures set out by her Department, and the criteria which must be met by persons who wish to apply for mortgage interest supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23797/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The purpose of the mortgage interest supplement (MIS) scheme is to provide 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. There are approximately 13,000 mortgage interest supplement recipients for which the Government has provided approximately €42 million for in 2013.Under the rules governing entitlement to the scheme 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 supplementary welfare allowance means test is satisfied

- the applicant has, at the time of application, engaged with their mortgage lender in order to meet their mortgage repayment obligations, and has entered into and complied with an alternative repayment arrangement for a period of not less than 12 months

- the loan agreement was entered into at a time when, in the opinion of the Department's representative, the person was in a position to meet the repayments

- only the portion of the loan that relates to the essential purchase, repair or maintenance of the property is taken into account

- the applicant is habitually resident in the State

- the amount of the mortgage interest payable by the claimant does not exceed such amount as the Department's representative 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. In exceptional circumstances, the Department's representative may award a supplement where the amount of mortgage interest payable by a person exceeds such amount as the Department's representative considers reasonable to meet his or her residential and other needs. Such supplement is payable for a maximum of 12 months from the date of the claim.

- the applicant or their spouse/civil partner/cohabitant is not engaged in full time employment, defined as more than 29 hours a week (subject to exceptions)

- the applicant is not; involved in a trade dispute/engaged in full time education (subject to exceptions)/unlawfully in the State/ admitted to an institution for a period of in excess of 13 weeks

- the applicant has not made; an application for asylum under the Refugee Act, 1996 and such application is awaiting final decision by the Minister for Justice and Equality or an application under the Aliens Act, 1935 to remain in the State and such application has not been determined.

A person who wishes to apply for mortgage interest supplement is advised to contact the Department's representative in their local office administering supplementary welfare allowance. The application form for mortgage interest supplement is available from the Department's representative administering supplementary welfare allowance and also from the Department's website, www.welfare.ie.