Written answers

Tuesday, 26 February 2008

Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government

Local Authority Housing

9:00 pm

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 479: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on making a change (details supplied) to his circular letter HRT 3/2002 of 6 March 2002 and if he will make a statement on the matter.. [7434/08]

Photo of Jack WallJack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 480: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he has plans to update the principals of circular letter HRT 3/2002 of 6 March 2002, in view of the recent rent increase of a local authority (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7435/08]

Photo of Batt O'KeeffeBatt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 480 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 broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT 3/2002 of 6 March 2002. I have no plans to change these principles at present. Decisions on whether or not to disregard either a proportion of income or particular sources of income, including the living alone and fuel allowances, for the purposes of calculating rents are matters for each individual local authority.

I consider it important that housing authorities should ensure that rent increases do not absorb an excessive amount of increases in income of tenants on low-incomes, including persons dependent on Social Welfare payments, particularly those in receipt of the Old Age pension. In that regard, my Department advised authorities in Circular letter HRT 3/2002 that, as a general guideline, it is considered that no more than 15% of any increase in such pension income should be absorbed by an increase in rent.

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