Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 94: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the treatment of refugees under the new regulations for rent supplement as set out in correspondence and a case example (details supplied); if the handling of this case by the community welfare officer represents an accurate interpretation of the intention of circular 10/09 and the new regulations; if the outcome is the intended effect of the new regulations; if she will review the impact of the circular and regulations on refugees and people with permission to reside here. [32859/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term 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 another source.

The 2009 Supplementary Budget introduced new arrangements for access to rent supplement. In order to qualify for a rent supplement, from the 27 July 2009, a person must have been residing in private rented accommodation or accommodation for homeless persons (or any combination of these) for a period of 183 days within the preceding 12 months of the date of claim for rent supplement. A person may also qualify for rent supplement where an assessment of housing need has been carried out within the 12 months preceding the date of claim and the person is deemed by the relevant local authority to be eligible for and in need of social housing support.

In all other cases, a person who wishes to apply for rent supplement is referred, in the first instance, for an assessment of eligibility for social housing support by the local housing authority in the area where claim to rent supplement is made (and the person intends to reside). Only when the person has been assessed as being eligible for and in need of social housing support, does the person become eligible for consideration for rent supplement.

The aim of this restriction on entitlement to rent supplement and the new working arrangements is to ensure that the housing authorities remain the principal agents both for assessing housing needs and for meeting the long-term housing needs of persons. Detailed guidelines on the operation of the restrictions on access to rent supplement were issued simultaneously by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to community welfare staff and local housing authority staff respectively. The Guidelines which issued to local housing authorities advised that they should deal with those presenting with an immediate housing need, by way of social housing accommodation or, where none is available, emergency accommodation until such time as a housing needs assessment is completed. Where emergency accommodation is deemed not appropriate by the relevant local authority, the authority can prioritise the housing needs assessment for this household so that rent support can be provided sooner, where applicable. These procedures, where operated by local housing authorities, should ensure that those with an urgent housing need, including those with refugee status, have their needs met in the most appropriate manner. The Department intends to meet shortly with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Reception and Integration Agency to discuss and verify operational and accommodation arrangements for those leaving the Direct Provision system where refugee status has been granted.

Inquiries are being made in relation to the specific query raised regarding a person granted refugee status and who was recently refused rent supplement on the basis that he had not been assessed by a housing authority as having a housing need. The Deputy will be advised of the outcome of these inquiries.