Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has reviewed the rent levels for single persons in the Dublin city area to confirm that there are sufficient properties available within the €130 per week rent ceiling. [34285/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the Department 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.

Setting maximum rent limits higher than are justified by the open market would have a distorting effect on the rental market, leading to a more general rise in rent levels. This in turn would worsen the affordability of rental accommodation unnecessarily, with particular negative impact for those tenants on lower incomes.

A review of rent limits was undertaken earlier this year. The review was informed by analysis of data sourced from the Private Residential Tenancies Board, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the Community Welfare Service and by the views of statutory and voluntary agencies working in this area.

Data provided by the CSO indicates that the increase in private rent levels began to decelerate at the beginning of 2008 and rent levels declined by almost 5% by August of this year. This deceleration in rent levels is also reflected in the Daft.ie rental reports where a decrease of over 5% was reported in the first half of 2008 and this included Dublin city. It is also reported that the supply of available rental accommodation has more than doubled in the last year.

Given the current downward trend in private rent levels and the fact that the overall housing market is currently in a period of adjustment, increasing rent limits in the rent supplement scheme would send an inappropriate signal to the market where a third or so of private sector tenants receive rent supplement. There is currently no hard evidence that the prescribed upper limits on rent levels supported under the rent supplement scheme are having a detrimental impact on the ability of eligible tenants generally to secure suitable rented accommodation to meet their needs.

Rent levels will continue to be monitored particularly for households that may find it difficult to secure or retain accommodation within the limits in certain areas. The position will be reviewed in January 2009 at which stage the results of the latest Private Rented Index report published by the CSO will be analysed for impact on rent limits.

The Health Service Executive has flexibility to award rent supplement above or below rent limits, having regard to local rent levels or to meet the particular needs of an individual. These discretionary powers ensure that individuals with particular needs can be accommodated within the scheme and specifically protects against homelessness.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive financial assistance in relation to rent payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34288/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Rent supplement is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive (HSE), as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

The Executive has advised that the person concerned applied for rent supplement in respect of his current address on 3 October 2008. His application has been approved and payment will issue as soon as possible. He has also been given assistance towards a rent deposit for this accommodation.

He also applied for rent supplement on 7 May 2008 in respect of his previous address. However, he did not furnish supporting documentation, as requested by the Community Welfare Officer (CWO) and his application cannot be processed. He should contact that CWO who will again clarify the requirements in respect of this application.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a non-contributory old age pension will be granted in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34298/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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An application for State Pension (Non Contributory) was received from the person concerned in the Department on 23 September 2008. The application was forwarded to the local Social Welfare Inspector for investigation on 1 October 2008. The inspector will be in contact with the customer in the near future to arrange an interview. On receipt of the inspector's report a decision will be made and the customer will be notified of the outcome.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost to the Exchequer of doubling the rate of the living alone allowance. [34363/08]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost to the Exchequer of raising the rate of fuel allowance by €12 per week. [34364/08]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost to the Exchequer of raising the qualified child allowances by €4. [34365/08]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the cost to the Exchequer of raising welfare rates by 2.5%, 5%, 7.5% and 10% respectively. [34366/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 to 183, inclusive, together.

The information sought by the Deputy is contained in the following table.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the further assistance that will be offered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34383/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes mortgage interest supplement, is administered on behalf of the Department by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. A mortgage interest supplement provides short-term income support to eligible people who are unable to meet their mortgage interest repayments in respect of a house which is their sole place of residence.

Mortgage interest supplement is normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of mortgage interest, has an income equal to the rate of SWA appropriate to their family circumstances less a minimum contribution, currently €13, which recipients are required to pay from their own resources. Many recipients pay more than €13 because recipients are also required, subject to income disregards, to contribute any additional assessable means thatthey have over and above the appropriate basic SWA rate towards their accommodationcosts.

The first €75 of additional income, that is, income above the standard rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to a person's circumstances, is disregarded for mortgage interest supplement purposes, with any additional income above €75 assessed at 75%. This measure ensures that people have a financial incentive to take up education or training opportunities or return to employment.

The Executive has advised that the person concerned had been awarded a mortgage interest supplement of €466.20 per month from 1 August 2008. She has since been awarded family income supplement of €150 per week from 1 October 2008. When this additional income is taken into account the revised rate of mortgage interest supplement payable is €194.07 per month from 1 October 2008.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will award the necessary credit contributions for qualification for contributory old age pension in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34384/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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According to the records of the Department, the person concerned will not reach 66 until 29 January 2012. He has been provided with a copy of his contribution record together with an information guide on State Pension (Contributory).

In general credited contributions are awarded on foot of periods of illness, unemployment and caring which are reckonable for pension entitlement. If the Deputy supplies information relating to any period for which credited contribution should be awarded, the matter will be further investigated.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when child benefit will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34388/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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In order to qualify for a range of Social Welfare payments, including Child Benefit, applicants are required to satisfy the Habitual Residence condition (HRC), which was introduced on 1 May 2004.

The HRC requires the applicant to satisfy the deciding officer that they meet certain conditions, including that their centre of interest is in Ireland and that their future intentions, as demonstrated, are to remain in Ireland. The legal right to undertake employment and be self supporting are considered by the deciding officer when the person's centre of interest and future intentions are being examined.

In order for Romanian nationals to work in Ireland, they are required to have a work permit; neither the person referred to nor her partner appear to have such a permit. Both appear to have been in Ireland prior to Romania's accession to the EU in January 2007 but did not register with the Dept of Justice or have work permits for this period.

The Child Benefit application was refused on 14 September 2007 as the Deciding Officer, having considered all the circumstances, did not consider that the person concerned satisfied the HR condition as her centre of interest and future intentions have not been clearly established due to her inability to work legally in Ireland, or alternatively to support herself independently. The person concerned was notified of the decision in writing on 14 September 2007 and given the right of appeal.

A further Child Benefit application was received from the person concerned on 5 August 2008, and this has also been refused as the Deciding Officer does not consider that she satisfies the Habitual Residence Condition. The person concerned was notified of the decision in writing on 7 October 2008 and of her right of appeal.