Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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At present the rent supplement is not in my remit but the Department of Social Protection is carrying out a review which I understand is due to be completed relatively soon. Perhaps the Deputies should direct their questions at the Minister for Social Protection.

We are aware of the variations in differential rent around the country. We plan to give local authorities a period of time to harmonise rents and a certain amount of local discretion will be permitted. However, we will harmonise them as much as we can so that, for example, people living in neighbouring counties do not pay substantially different rent. We will give those authorities which have the most significant differences a few years to come closer to the harmonised levels so that people's rents do not increase or decrease too significantly.