Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)

The rent supplement scheme is important in helping people find accommodation. It is always intended to be a short-term payment. The way it complements the rental accommodation scheme is very important. I do not propose to accept the amendment but I will keep the rent supplement under review because of the amount of money we spend on it. Some 70,000 people benefit from rent supplement.

There is good co-operation with the councils in implementing the rental accommodation scheme. In recent years, 15,800 rent supplement recipients have been transferred to the rental accommodation scheme and other social housing options. In excess of 10,000 other rent supplement recipients have been assessed with a view to transferring them to the rental accommodation scheme. I envisage that continuing and improving over the next few months. That scheme rests with local authorities.

Regarding issues with landlords, our contract is with the tenant. We give the payment to the tenant. As soon as payment has been activated, we notify the Private Residential Tenancies Board, PRTB, electronically so that it can follow up to ensure the premises is registered. We find that, with the availability of more premises, rents are coming down and people can get better quality accommodation, which is important. I will keep the issue under review because it is a substantial sum of money helping a substantial number of people.

I can tell Senator Burke where the staff are going but I do not know from where they are coming. We do not yet have the detail but I will pass it on to him if I get it. It is open to all Departments. The important thing is that it is not additional staff coming into the Civil Service. They are coming from other Departments.