Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 818: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when responsibility for the rent allowance scheme will be transferred from the Department of Health and Children and the Health Service Executive to the Department and Social and Family Affairs; if the scheme will be amended; if the amendments will include a role for the Department of Social and Family Affairs in monitoring the behaviour of tenants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38732/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Welfare Service (CWS) administers the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme (SWA), which includes rent supplement on behalf of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. In February 2006 the Government decided that the (CWS) would transfer to this Department. Provision has been made in the Social Welfare and Pensions Acts 2007 and 2008 for the transfer of the administration of the SWA scheme from the HSE to the Department. These provisions are subject to a Commencement Order.

A considerable amount of preparatory work, to allow for the transfer, has been completed but progress has been stalled due to industrial relations issues. Following consultation between the Department and the Health Sector Management the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) was asked to intervene. A meeting of the parties took place on 22 September in the LRC and further meetings have taken place in October. The management side's intention is to reach a collective agreement with the unions as soon as is practical so that the transfer can be implemented as early as possible in 2010. Discussions have also taken place with the unions representing the staff in the Department in relation to the transfer proposal.

There are no plans for a specific review of the rent supplement scheme, when the administration of the SWA scheme transfers to the Department. However, the operation of the rent supplement scheme will continue to be monitored on an ongoing basis.

With regard to anti-social behaviour, tenancy arrangements involve a contract between the landlord and tenant and tenant behaviour in private rented accommodation is a matter for the landlord in the first instance. There is a number of avenues open to landlords in such cases, including the mediation service for landlords and tenants operated by the Private Residential Tenancies Board and/or recourse to the Garda Síochána and/or the Courts in relation to enforcement of the law in relation to anti-social behaviour. If necessary, the landlord may seek termination of the tenancy which, if effected, would result in the termination of rent supplement. There are no plans to make changes to the social welfare legislation in this regard.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 819: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of households whose application for rent supplement was refused from August to September 2009; the number of households whose application for mortgage supplement was refused in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37912/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The number of people who applied for and were awarded rent and mortgage interest supplement in August and September 2009 is provided in the following tabular statements.

Claim details are recorded electronically in cases where it is established that rent and mortgage interest supplement is payable. However, claim details are not always recorded electronically where no entitlement has been established to a supplement, unless an appeal has been lodged with an appeals officer of the HSE, in which case claim details are recorded electronically.

For this reason, reliable statistics are not available on the total number of people who applied for and were refused rent and mortgage interest supplement.

Notes

Claims registered include

o claims not pursued by the applicant and

o re-applications where a rent supplement recipient moves to new accommodation.

Claim details are recorded electronically where it is established that rent supplement is payable. Where an appeal has been lodged, claim details are also recorded electronically.

Given the pressure on the community welfare service, claim details are not always recorded on the system where no entitlement has been established to rent supplement and no appeal is made.

The difference between claims registered and claims awarded is not necessarily a refusal rate, for the reasons outlined above.

In these circumstances, fully reliable statistics are not available on the total number of people who applied for and were refused rent supplement.

Notes

Claims registered include claims not pursued by the applicant.

Claim details are recorded electronically where it is established that mortgage interest supplement is payable. Where an appeal has been lodged, claim details are also recorded electronically.

Given the pressure on the community welfare service, claim details are not always recorded on the system where no entitlement has been established to mortgage interest supplement.

The difference between claims registered and claims awarded is not necessarily a refusal rate, for the reasons outlined above.

In these circumstances, fully reliable statistics are not available on the total number of people who applied for and were refused mortgage interest supplement.

A survey of mortgage interest supplement claims, to be conducted shortly, will include an examination of the rate of refusal and refusal reasons.