Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for rent support refused in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23258/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of appeals against decisions in respect of rent allowance in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23259/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 314 and 315 together.

The supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA), is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE). Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims or in the Executive's appeals process.

Statistics are not available on the number of people refused rent supplement as all claims are not registered on the Department's computer system. However, information is available on the number of claims registered for rent supplement and on the number of claims awarded since 2003. The tabular statement (Table 1) shows the number of rent supplement claims registered and awarded for this period.

Under existing arrangements, an appeal against a decision for entitlement to rent supplement is made in the first instance to the designated appeals office in the HSE. Following on from this a person may if they so wish, make a subsequent appeal to the Social Welfare Appeals Office if they are dissatisfied with the decision of the HSE appeals office.

Details of the number of appeals to HSE Appeals Officers relating to rent supplement are available only for the calendar year 2005. 549 rent supplement appeals were allowed, 860 rent supplement appeals were disallowed and 267 rent supplement appeals were withdrawn in the HSE Appeals Offices in 2005.

Details of the number of appeals relating to rent supplement dealt with by the Social Welfare Appeals Office are available for each year since 2003. Table 2 shows the number of rent supplement claims allowed and disallowed since then.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of applications for family income supplement in each of the past five years; the numbers, granted, refused or pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23260/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if rent support will be increased in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23262/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims.

The Executive has been contacted concerning this case and has advised that a rent supplement has recently been awarded to the person concerned but that the bank details of the person concerned are required before payment can issue. It has further advised that her personal contribution towards her rent is at €13 per week. This is the minimum contribution payable, and means that she is getting the maximum weekly rate of rent supplement payable to a person in her circumstances.