P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork in receipt of disability allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24004/09]

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 as part of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.

As part of Budget 2009, the minimum weekly contribution which a person is expected to contribute towards their rent was increased from €13 to €18 with effect from January 2009. The recent Supplementary Budget provided that the weekly minimum contribution be further increased from €18 to €24 with effect from 1 June 2009 and that payments currently being made to existing rent supplement tenants be reduced by 8% from the same date. These measures account for a reduction in the rent supplement payment of the person concerned this year.

The most recent data published by the CSO shows 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 that state support for tenants who form a substantial section of the rental market, does not give rise to inflated rental prices.

Rent supplements are also subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant for rent supplement may incur. Rent limits are set at levels that enable the 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. However, rent supplement may be paid in certain circumstances cases where the rent is above the relevant limit and where for example, the person concerned has sufficient income to meet his or her basic needs after paying rent.

The Executive has advised that the person concerned decided to move to new accommodation in October 2008, where the rent is above the relevant maximum rent limit for his area and household circumstances. The Executive approved payment of rent supplement in this case as the person concerned is in receipt of additional income from a training allowance.

It is open to the person concerned to request his landlord to reduce his current rent. While he may be contractually obliged to pay the rent, it is expected that landlords will decrease rents in recognition of the fact that rents have fallen generally and that there are now a large number of vacant rental properties nationally. In the event that his landlord does not reduce his current rent, the person concerned could move to less expensive accommodation within the existing rent limits and be liable only for the minimum weekly contribution of €24 towards his rent.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is not receiving the back to work allowance in view of the fact that they are working the required number of hours per week. [23937/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Participants in the back to work allowance scheme receive a tapered percentage of their social welfare payment over a three year period.

The person concerned is in receipt of a back to work allowance payment, since 2006. His current rate of payment is €46.80. His entitlement is due to cease on 23 October, 2009.