Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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30. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding mortgage interest supplement in respect of persons who are long term unemployed (details supplied); the way she plans on assisting 11,200 persons who are currently on mortgage interest supplement to obtain permanent employment; if she will provide the job creation and mortgage support schemes that the Government proposed to introduce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49465/14]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The original purpose of the mortgage interest supplement scheme was 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. There are currently approximately 5,800 people in receipt of mortgage interest supplement, of which some 2,490 are on the Live Register, representing a small minority of less than 1% of the total number on the Live Register.

The Government’s strategy to assist those in mortgage difficulty is built around the following measures, as recommended in the 2011 Interdepartmental Mortgage Arrears Working Group (Keane Group), in four main distinct areas:

- Lenders providing sustainable and durable resolution options to their borrower;

- A social housing response sponsored by local authorities;

- Comprehensive advice to borrowers; and

- Personal Insolvency Reform.

In the context of the overall strategy, the continued payment of mortgage interest supplement does little to assist recipients in improving the long term difficulty in addressing their mortgage problem. Discontinuation of entitlement to the mortgage interest supplement (MIS) scheme was introduced for all new applicants from 1 January 2014. Customers availing of this support prior to 1st January 2014 have been able to retain entitlement to the scheme up to 1st January 2018.

It is expected that during the four year period, existing customers will no longer require this support through sustainable solutions being put in place with their lenders, exit strategies sponsored by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government or through securing employment. The Department of Social Protection provides a range of employment supports to jobseekers, including persons currently on mortgage interest supplement. Supports include career advice and guidance, information on and access to suitable further education and training opportunities, advice on employment incentives and supports and access to internships and employment programmes.

Where a jobseeker in receipt of mortgage interest supplement takes up temporary employment greater than 30 hours per week and does not qualify for the supplement, they may have their payment generally suspended for up to 8 weeks and re-instated after this period. I would advise any person in receipt of mortgage interest supplement who is taking up temporary employment to discuss their individual circumstances with the officer in the Community Welfare Service administering their claim.