Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 613: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position regarding an application for rent subsidy in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [28877/09]

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

The Health Service Executive has advised that it received an application for rent supplement from the person concerned in respect of his current address on 27th May 2009. Documentation clarifying the income of the person concerned was received on 17 th June 2009. The Executive has advised that a decision on entitlement to rent supplement in this case will be made shortly.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 614: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will provide a breakdown of the recipients of rent allowance nationally and in Dublin 15 by nationality and status, such as lone parents, married couples, married couples with no children, single people with no children and others for 2005 to 2009; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29323/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A table shows the number of recipients of rent supplement nationally and in the Dublin 15 area, by nationality. A breakdown of the number of recipients on rent supplement by household composition is not available. Recipients of Rent Supplement in Dublin 15 by Nationality

Recipients of Rent Supplement Nationally by Nationality (includes Dublin 15)

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 616: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the way the applications of jobseeker's who sign off for a few weeks and then sign back on are fast-tracked by her Department. [28813/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Department has been examining all aspects of the work associated with the processing of claims and streamlining wherever possible, including fast tracking certain categories of claims.

Where an applicant to a jobseeker's payment supplies all the necessary information and documentation, their claim is given priority and it is decided ahead of those who have not produced all of the required information. People who have already established entitlement, return to work for a few weeks and re-sign generally fall into this category and are given priority under the fast-tracking arrangements. Inevitably, there will be some claims that will require further examination and delays will arise in such cases. However, these should be the minority of cases. Where there is a delay in processing a jobseeker's claim, the person may apply for Supplementary Welfare Allowance from the local Community Welfare Officer.