Seanad debates

Wednesday, 15 November 2006

6:00 pm

Photo of Noel AhernNoel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)

The programme featured a complimentary piece about the scheme, which will be of huge benefit over time. It is being developed slowly, but the people who are availing of it will be able to go back to work without losing their rent allowance payments, as they would have previously. I accept that it is happening slowly as a result of various difficulties, but it will take those who avail of it out of one of the main poverty traps which exist.

The MakeRoom campaign has raised issues relating to the rent supplement scheme and the affordability of rent generally. The Department of Social and Family Affairs is reviewing the rent limits of the rent supplement scheme to determine the limits which should apply from January 2007. The action that is being taken to promote the reform and development of the private rented sector is helping to improve the availability of affordable rental accommodation. Approximately 60,000 people, or 40% of the overall rental market, are availing of rent supplement payments. If the Department were to continue to give larger amounts of money without watching what was happening, there would not be any point to it. If the scheme is not properly focused and targeted, it will add to the overall price of renting.

The MakeRoom campaign has called for the enforcement of stricter standards in private rented accommodation, which is a matter that is being addressed by the Government. When I attended the launch of Threshold's annual report some weeks ago, I took the opportunity of announcing the Government's plans in that regard. Towards 2016 includes a commitment to update and enforce effectively the minimum standards and regulations in the private rented sector. Under the action programme that is being undertaken to promote further improvements in the standards in private rented accommodation, the regulations will be reviewed and an attempt will be made to provide for more effective enforcement. When we started the rental accommodation scheme and inspected some of the accommodation in respect of which people were getting rent allowance, we found that some of the accommodation was very poor.

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