Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 148: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the rules and conditions applying to the award of rent supplement; if these regulations include actions which the Health Service Executive may take where an allegation is submitted that a recipient may be engaged in serious anti-social behaviour; and his views on the introduction of amending legislation if there is no such provision (details supplied). [8491/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the Health Service Executive, provides for the payment of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of rent to eligible persons in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation needs. In order to qualify for rent supplement a person must satisfy a number of conditions including: the person must be a bona fide tenant; be habitually resident in the State; have a housing need; and satisfy a means test. In addition, the executive must be satisfied that the accommodation is suited to the person's needs and the rent payable is within the prescribed limits.

In the case of private rent accommodation, anti-social behaviour by a tenant is a matter for the landlord in the first instance. There are a number of avenues open to landlords in such cases, including the mediation service for landlords and tenants operated by the Private Residential Tenancies Board. If necessary, the landlord may seek termination of the tenancy which, if effected, would result in the termination of rent supplement.

The Health Service Executive has authority under legislation to refuse, suspend or terminate payment of a rent supplement in the case of a person who has been required to deliver up possession of a dwelling provided by a housing authority or an approved body where the reasons for that requirement include anti-social behaviour or the interests of good estate management. I am satisfied that these existing measures are adequate and I have no plans to make any changes to the social welfare legislation in this regard.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 149: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, further to Question No. 394 of 22 November 2005, the status of an application regarding rent supplement for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8294/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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Rent supplements are payable under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in determining entitlement in individual cases. The western region of the executive has advised that the person concerned was refused rent supplement as the household income was in excess of the means limits applicable in his family circumstances. The person concerned has appealed this decision to the executive's appeals office, which has advised that the appeal is likely to be held shortly and that the person will be notified of the outcome.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost in a full year of extending the over 80 allowance to the qualified adults of contributory old age pensioners in full and on a pro-rata basis. [8455/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The over 80 allowance is an extra payment to people receiving social welfare pensions and in budget 2006 I was pleased to raise this to €10 per week. The allowance is paid in respect of the main claimant and is not currently available to those receiving social welfare support as qualified adults on the pension of their spouse or partner.

At present, there are almost 3,700 qualified adults who are over 80 years of age on old age contributory and retirement pensions. The cost of extending the full allowance to this group is about €1.94 million per annum. The equivalent cost of paying it on a pro-rata basis, assuming payment at 77% of the maximum personal rate, is estimated at €1.5 million per annum. The matter will be kept under review.