Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

Deputy Daly stated that a particular woman in Wicklow is paying €850 per month in rent. I do not know where in Wicklow the person lives and cannot, therefore, inform the Deputy of the rent allowance for that area. The Deputy has stated that the woman's rent allowance has been capped at €625 per month. I suggest she take up this matter with the relevant departmental officer. Community welfare officers and staff in my Department are sympathetic and understanding.

It is all very fine for Deputy Daly to suggest I should not be trying to make savings in terms of rent but I want value for the taxpayer and the tenant. Also, I am entitled to take into account the person in work who lives in rented accommodation and is paying that rent out of a small wage and the student or family paying rent when a student goes to college. My Department, in terms of its responsibilities in the administration of a large budget, must ensure it does not distort the rental market by in effect permitting rents which are too high. As I stated earlier, following a similar review by the previous Minister the outcome was a modest but important reduction in rents. Lest the Deputy is not aware of it, rent levels in some areas are very high.

Deputy Daly referred to NAMA. As I stated earlier, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has agreed to take over 2,000 units deemed suitable for social housing. Obviously, the units will have to be in appropriate areas. Some of the surplus units may not be in areas where people in receipt of rent allowance wish to live. If the woman to whom the Deputy referred wishes to write to me or to make contact with her local community welfare officer, I am sure she will be attended to diligently.

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