Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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The number of people receiving rent supplement may have reduced in recent years. Why is there a drop and to what extent, taking into account people in the rental accommodation scheme? The Minister is clamping down on social welfare fraud. Is there any such initiative on rent supplement? There may be arrangements whereby people fraudulently receive a rent payment. If someone in a particular part of the country cannot get a property under the rent cap, are they given any help in sourcing accommodation by the Department? What is the situation in Britain for similar payments? Do they have the same set up as us?

If the top-up problem is endemic, should they be brought into the open so that top-ups are allowed? There could be set payments according to the market, with the analysis the Department does, but we could also allow top-ups as they are happening anyway. Has the Department considered this?