Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Primary responsibility for the provision of emergency accommodation rests with local authorities, as the Deputy well knows. The Department’s role with regard to homeless persons is mainly income maintenance.

Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 63,000 people, at a cost of €298 million in 2015. Properties are being secured under the scheme, with over 17,200 rent supplement tenancies awarded this year. A review of rent limits earlier this year found that the impact of increasing limits at a time of constrained supply - we all recognise that the problem is constrained supply - would increase costs disproportionately for the Exchequer, with little or no new housing available to recipients. Rather than increasing limits, rent supplement policy will continue to allow for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the limits for both existing customers and new applicants. The circumstances of tenants are considered on a case by case basis and rents are being increased above prescribed limits, as appropriate. This flexible approach has assisted approximately 4,700 households nationwide to retain their rented accommodation.

In addition, the Department, in conjunction with Threshold, operates a special protocol in the Dublin and Cork areas, where supply issues are particularly acute, with plans under way to extend it to Galway city. It should also be noted that under the exceptional needs payments scheme, assistance may also be provided towards rent deposits or rent advances, with over 2,100 payments made this year, at a cost of €1.1 million.

These measures and the reforms in the private rental sector announced last week will provide increased certainty for both tenants and landlords in the current market. I am continuing to keep the matter under close review. This work is ongoing in the Department.

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