Ms Niamh O'Donoghue:

The rent supplement scheme was designed to be a short-term solution. It has not been designed to meet an individual's long-term housing needs. There is no doubt that particular difficulties arise in certain areas of the country, but these difficulties have more to do with the supply of housing than the level of rent supplement provided. At one stage the Department was heavily criticised for the level of rent supplement in that it was driving rents and playing a disproportionate role in the rental market. Approximately 78,000 people are in receipt of rent supplement, which shows that it is at least working in these cases. There is no doubt, however, that in particular areas of the country supply is a huge issue. I am not sure that increasing rent supplement would necessarily address the issue. It would possibly drive rents upwards in these areas. The supplement is reviewed on a regular basis. It was last reviewed in the middle of 2013 and the current arrangements are scheduled to remain in place until the end of this year. We are aware of the particular difficulties that arise. There is very limited discretion in regard to circumstances where particular vulnerabilities present.