Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the recognised percentage of income payable under his Department's legislation for senior citizens housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11567/05]

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the guidelines issued by his Department to local authorities in regard to rent payments for local authority housing family units and senior citizen housing; the percentage of total income which the rent of a tenant should be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11598/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 165 together.

The making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of local authorities as an integral part of their housing management functions subject to the following broad principles laid down by my Department: the rent payable should be related to income and a smaller proportion of income should be required from low income households; allowances should be made for dependent children including those under 21 years of age in full-time education; a contribution towards rent should be required from subsidiary earners in the household; provision should be included for the acceptance of a lower rent than that required under the terms of the scheme in exceptional cases where payment of the normal rent would give rise to hardship; and appropriate local factors should be taken into account, including the costs of the maintenance and management of the stock of rented dwellings and the adequacy of the rental income to meet such costs.

The proportion of income payable as rent is a matter for individual local authorities. However, circular letter HRT 3/2002 of 6 March 2002 requested that authorities should ensure that rent increases do not absorb an excessive amount of increases in income of tenants on low-incomes dependent on social welfare payments and, in particular, on old age pension payments. As a general guideline authorities were advised that no more than 15% of any increase in such pension income should be absorbed by an increase in rent.