Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way she and her Government colleagues will protect persons in receipt of rent allowance from becoming homeless if their landlord is not willing to reduce their rent in accordance with the proposed reduction in rent subsidies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18925/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently over 86,000 people in receipt of rent supplement, an increase of 44% since the end of December 2007. The recent Supplementary Budget provided that payments currently being made to existing rent supplement tenants be reduced by 8%. The weekly minimum contribution payable towards rent is also being increased from €18 to €24 a week, with effect from 1 June 2009. While tenants may be contractually obliged to pay the rent agreed to in their lease, it is expected that landlords will decrease the rent in recognition of the fact that rents have fallen generally and that there are now a large number of vacant rental properties nationally.

Data published by the CSO show that rents fell by almost 7% between November 2008 and February 2009. A leading property website recently reported that rents have fallen by almost 16% in the twelve months to March 2009 with 5% of the fall occurring since the start of 2009. It is essential that state support for tenants who form a substantial section of the rental market, does not give rise to inflated rental prices and overcharging by landlords. Other changes in the Supplementary Budget provide for new maximum rent limits to be prescribed in regulations to take effect from 1 June 2009 to reflect the general reductions in private sector rent levels.

Existing recipients of rent supplement will be advised by letter in advance of the change being made to their rent payment and this communication can be shown to landlords as evidence of the revised rent supplement in payment in individual cases. Landlords will be advised through advertising in the print media of the general reduction in rent supplement payments. In the current climate, where there is a large number of vacant rental properties, it is expected that people will be able to get accommodation at the appropriate rental level.

Community Welfare Officers have discretion to provide assistance where exceptional circumstances exist in any individual case e.g. where homelessness might result due to the inability of a person to meet their rent payment. The Department is also in discussions with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding the role of local authorities who are responsible for providing a wide range of social housing supports for those with a long-term housing need.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views in regard to a submission (details supplied); her plans to address the concerns expressed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18936/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The rates of child benefit have increased significantly since 2001 having trebled for the first two children and increased by over 185% for the third and subsequent children. Overall expenditure on child benefit grew from the equivalent of €965 million in 2001 to nearly €2.5 billion in 2008 as a result of these rates increases and the growth in the number of eligible children.

The Government is proud to have been able to direct such substantial increases in financial support to all Irish families in recent years. However, given the scale of the current economic crisis, it is necessary to address all aspects of the public finances so as to avoid excessive borrowing and to ensure that fairness exists in the allocation of resources.

It was in that context that the Minister for Finance announced in the Supplementary Budget the Government's intention to subject child benefit to income tax or means-test it from 2010.

The Department, together with the Department of Finance and the Revenue Commissioners, will be giving the matter careful consideration over the coming months.

Furthermore, the Commission on Taxation is considering the issues underlying the possible taxation of child benefit. The Commission's deliberations will inform the Government's final decision on how to proceed. Officials of this Department, in their submission and their meeting with the Commission, set out their views on the issues involved in means testing or taxing child benefit.

Since 1944, Child Benefit has been a key instrument in child income support policy with the main objectives of supporting families in the costs of rearing children and the alleviation of poverty. I assure the House that a decision on how best to proceed will not be taken lightly by the Government.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when carer's allowance will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19011/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for Carer's Allowance on 17 November 2008. She was requested to submit details of her own and her spouse's employment. She was subsequently asked for a P45 for herself and a P60 for 2008 for her spouse.

As her spouse did not receive a P60 for 2008 from his employer and the cumulative earnings details are necessary for the means assessment of Carer's Allowance the case was referred to an Investigative Officer of this Department for means assessment and confirmation that all conditions necessary for receipt of the allowance are satisfied. On completion of the necessary investigations a decision will be made and the person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome.

Under Social Welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims must be made by Deciding Officers and Appeals Officers. These Officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.