Ms Helen Faughnan:

If one has a single person in receipt of a social welfare payment, he or she has to pay €30 per week as the personal contribution towards the rent supplement. That €30 could go towards offsetting the costs of staying in the house plus some contribution from their social welfare payment. In their private rented accommodation they would be expected to meet the cost of their heating, lighting and cooking facilities. There would be scope within their social welfare payment plus the €30 or, if a couple, €40 payment per week they would have to pay towards their rent. We would expect them to contribute to the family home.