Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 135: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the options open to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin whose rent has been recently increased by their landlord and now surpasses the rental cap who cannot find alternative accommodation in the locality and who may be forced to declare themselves homeless. [5701/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Rent supplement is administered on my behalf by the Health Service Executive (HSE) as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme. Rent supplement is subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant may incur. Rent limits are set at levels that enable the different eligible household types to secure and retain basic suitable rented accommodation, having regard to the different rental market conditions that prevail in various parts of the State. The objective is to ensure that rent supplement is not paid in respect of overly expensive accommodation having regard to the size of the household.

Notwithstanding existing rent limits, the Health Service Executive may exceed these limits in certain circumstances e.g. where there is special housing need related to exceptional circumstances. The discretionary power ensures that individuals with particular needs can be accommodated within the scheme and specifically protects against homelessness. The Health Service Executive has advised that it has awarded a rent supplement to the person concerned. The Executive has also advised that it has exercised its discretionary power to pay a rent supplement in excess of the specified rent limits, due to the exceptional circumstances of this case.