Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I wish to concentrate on two points made by the Minister in her response. Rent supplement in areas of Meath was reduced in June this year to reflect the lower rents in those areas, namely Athboy, Enfield, Trim and Kells. However, rent supplement limits in respect of the more significant rents in the southern corridor of the county were not increased. The Minister seems to think that the reason rents in those areas are so high is the lack of rental accommodation available, but that is not true; they are high because of the large mortgages involved. When they were sold, the houses were considered to be in the greater Dublin area. It does not make sense that the Minister reviewed the figures in June of this year without being cognisant of the fact that the rents commanded for two-bedroom and three-bedroom houses in Ashbourne, Ratoath, Dunshaughlin and Dunboyne, which for all effective purposes are in the greater Dublin area, are exactly the same as those in Finglas, Santry, Clondalkin and Artane. I agree with the Minister that rent supplement is a short-term measure and that a person should not expect to have it for the rest of his or her life. The effect of the change will be that people who are rooted in their communities will have to move out because of a temporary glitch in their financial circumstances.

The Minister indicated how few people are on rent supplement in the southern corridor of County Meath. Would she please consider a further review in light of the fact that it would make a small monetary difference to the Department but would have a significant impact on communities that have developed in areas where people have decided to rear their families for the past ten to 15 years? It would allow people to remain in these areas during temporary glitches in their financial circumstances until they get back on their feet.

See this speech in context