Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Approximately 89,000 persons are in receipt of rent supplement, for which the Government has provided €436 million in 2012. The aim of rent supplement is to provide short-term income assistance, rather than to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. Officials in the Department are reviewing the findings and recommendations made in the Focus Ireland report, Out of Reach: The impact of changes in Rent Supplement, published last week and I will discuss the report with them. It should be stated the research was based on a small-scale sample of ten households, of which nine experienced homelessness at some point. This group cannot be considered as representative of the majority of the approximate 89,000 recipients of rent supplement. The report indicates that 27 landlords or property agents were interviewed by telephone.

Revised rent limits are applicable to new rent supplement tenancies from January 2012 and existing tenancies on review. These limits were set after an analysis of the most up-to-date market data available. Special provisions are in place, whereby rent limits can be exceeded in order to assist persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Approximately 42,000 rent supplement claims have been awarded in 2012, which shows that accommodation can be secured within the new limits. Departmental officials are continuing to provide support and advice for customers in addressing their accommodation and other needs. They also continue to examine the impact of the rent limits on those who claim rent supplement. The next review of rent limits will take place before June 2013.

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