Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 197: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved and awarded the one parent family payment in view of the fact that all requested information has been submitted. [23530/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The application for one-parent family payment from the person concerned is currently with a Social Welfare Inspector, whose investigations are ongoing. On completion of enquiries a decision will be made and she will be notified of the outcome. The Social Welfare Inspector is awaiting additional documentation requested from the applicant. 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.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will support the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3. [23547/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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There are currently over 88,200 people in receipt of rent supplement, an increase of 48% since the end of December 2007. The recent Supplementary Budget provided that the weekly minimum contribution payable towards rent be increased from €18 to €24 a week, with effect from 1 June 2009. The Supplementary Budget also provided that payments currently being made to existing rent supplement tenants be reduced by 8% from the same date. 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 is now a large number of vacant rental properties nationally.

Rent supplement for the person concerned was reduced by €13 a week from 1 June 2009. This reduction comprised an increase of €6 a week in the minimum contribution payable towards rent and a reduction of €7 a week in rent supplement payment in line with the 8% reduction announced i n the Supplementary Budget.

The most recent data published by the CSO show that rents in the private sector have fallen by almost 11% since November 2008 and by almost 20% in the past year. It is essential therefore that state support for tenants who form a substantial section of the rental market, does not give rise to inflated rental prices. Other changes in the Supplementary Budget provided for new maximum rent limits to take effect from 1 June 2009, to reflect the general reductions in private sector rent levels.

Each existing recipient of rent supplement, including the person concerned, was advised by letter in advance of the particular change being made to their rent supplement payment from 1 June 2009 and this communication can be shown to landlords as evidence of the revised rent supplement in payment in individual cases. Landlords were advised through advertising in national and provincial newspapers of the general reduction in rent supplement payments. A number of organisations representing landlords and tenants were contacted and advised of the changes to the rent supplement scheme.

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. Officers have been advised that support, appropriate to the circumstances of any individual case, may be provided to rent supplement tenants for up to two months, while alternative accommodation is being sourced within the existing rent limits.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when jobseeker'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. [23573/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for Jobseeker's Allowance on 6 April 2009. The application is currently with a Social Welfare Inspector for investigation and he will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when unemployment assistance or unemployment benefit will be awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23574/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for jobseeker's allowance from 26 January 2009. He had been self-employed and was asked to submit details concerning his self-employment. When his reply was received it was decided to call him for interview which was scheduled for 15 April 2009. He did not attend for interview and did not contact the Department regarding the appointment; consequently his claim was closed on 28 April 2009. The person concerned applied again for jobseeker's allowance on 14 May 2009 and stated that he was self-employed on a part-time basis. Details in relation to his self employment have been sought and his claim will be processed on receipt of this information.