Thomas Pringle (Donegal South West, Independent)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing this Topical Issue matter to be raised. The reason for it is simple. There is a need to recognise the lack of one and two-bedroom apartments in rural areas and, therefore, the fact that tenants cannot be over-accommodated for the purposes of rent supplement and should not be ordered out of their accommodation for that reason.

There are many problems with the rent allowance system. These are mainly related to the maximum rent limits set and the attendant problems they have generated. There is also a problem with the obligation to be in private rented accommodation for six months before one is entitled to claim rent assistance and the need to be on the local authority housing list. This is especially problematic in rural areas. It has arisen more often in recent months and I imagine the problem applies throughout the country. In our small rural towns and villages there are simply no one or two-bedroom apartments available. Thankfully, we did not have the rampant development that occurred elsewhere during the so-called Celtic tiger years resulting in the building of so many blocks of apartments. However, in small towns such as Ardara, Killibegs and Donegal town in south-west Donegal, people who require rent allowance must apply for and take the available properties.

There have been some notable cases recently. One example involved an elderly lady who had a severe heart condition and who could not enter a premises with stairs. She rented a bungalow. However, the only bungalow available in the area had three bedrooms and she was refused rent allowance because she was over-accommodated. That was a bad decision by the community welfare officers and the Department. Thankfully on appeal the circumstances were accepted and she received her rent allowance. However, the process put that person through considerable delays, nervousness and concern about whether she could afford to live anywhere. Another case involved a single man who had been in a two-bedroom apartment which was put on the market by the landlord, who wanted vacant possession of it. The man discussed the matter with the community welfare officer, who advised him to get another property and indicated that the rent allowance would transfer. The only place available was a three-bedroomed bungalow in the same village, but subsequently, when the community welfare officer visited, the man was told he would have to leave and that he would not qualify for rent allowance for the property because it was too large. The system needs to recognise that in many areas around the country one and two-bedroomed apartments are not available.

The people dependent on rent allowance need a sense of security and need to know that if they find a property to rent, the system will be able to accommodate them. The rigid application of the rules and the law does not work in rural areas. I urge the Minister to inform community welfare services and superintendents that they need to be flexible with the system. People are not looking for accommodation that is too large for them, but availing of the only accommodation available in the area.

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