David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to whether the practice exists in any local authorities to include the weekly fuel allowance as assessable means or income when calculating rent increases for local authority housing tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32546/06]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has issued or intends to issue guidelines to local authorities as to what constitutes assessable income for local authority tenants; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32547/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.

Each local authority calculates the local authority housing rents payable in its area in accordance with a differential rents scheme adopted by the elected members and subject to guidance issued by my Department.

My Department has issued guidelines to local authorities in relation to rents of local authority dwellings under circular letter HRT 3 / 2002 of the 6 of March 2002. These guidelines set out the broad principles of a rent scheme and are not prescriptive in determining what items should be included in the housing authority's assessment of income.

The guidance advises authorities to 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 on old age pension payments. As a general guideline, no more than 15% of any increase in such pension income should be absorbed by an increase in rent.

All aspects of the differential rent schemes are currently under examination in my Department in line with the Government's commitment in the Housing Policy Framework Building Sustainable Communities to implement a fair rents policy across all social housing tenures.