Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

There are approximately 80,000 recipients of rent supplement at present. Just over €344 million has been provided for the scheme in the 2014 Estimates. The Department has no evidence of widespread or systemic false declarations of rent supplement through the use of illegal top-ups. The tenant, landlord or landlord's agent must complete the rent supplement application form, which includes the amount of rent, and declare that the information provided is correct and accurate. The Department's form clearly states that making a false statement or withholding information may lead to prosecution.

In June 2012, the Department introduced powers of inquiry for staff to formally request and oblige landlords to provide information in respect of rent supplement tenants, principally to verify the agreed rent and existence of the tenancy. Any instance of false declarations should be reported to the Department, which has specific legislative powers to deal with such offences. In July 2013, the Government approved the introduction of the housing assistance payment scheme as part of the reform of the rent supplement scheme. Under this new scheme, responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need will transfer from the Department to local authorities using the housing assistance payment scheme.

Officials in my Department are working with their counterparts in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, which is leading the project, to develop proposals to give effect to this transfer. It is intended that the scheme will be piloted in early 2014 in the Limerick local authority area, with further roll-out to selected authorities during the year. The Department has recently introduced an amendment to the household budgeting facility, which is operated by An Post on behalf of the Department. This will assist local authorities in the collection of rents and will facilitate the housing assistance payment pilot.

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