Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 252: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons receiving rent allowance in County Mayo; and the number of these recipients who are on the local authority housing list in County Mayo. [47913/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the consultation which takes place between the local authorities and Health Service Executive before rent allowance is approved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47922/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 255 together.

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. There are 3,079 recipients of rent supplement in County Mayo. Information in relation to the number of rent supplement recipients who are on local authority housing lists is not maintained by the Department. This information is available from the relevant housing authority in Mayo.

The 2009 Supplementary Budget introduced new arrangements for applications for rent supplement. In order to qualify for rent supplement, from the 27 th 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 by the relevant housing authority, 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 housing authorities remain the principal agents both for assessing housing need and for meeting the long-term housing needs of people.

The Department works closely with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and regional and national monitoring groups are being set up by that Department to monitor, support and review the working arrangements in place to regulate access to rent supplement. The working group will facilitate co-operation and dialogue between local authorities and the community welfare service particularly in relation to the operation of the new housing needs assessment arrangements.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the review of a disability allowance refusal has taken place in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and the outcome of this review. [47914/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for Disability Allowance on 21 July 2009. The claim was assessed by a Medical Assessor and she was found to be not medically suitable for Disability Allowance. The person concerned submitted further medical evidence which was assessed by the Medical Assessor and she was found to be medically suitable for Disability Allowance. The person has now been awarded Disability Allowance with effect from 22 July 2009.

Her means were at €324.50 per week based on her spouse's employment. She is therefore entitled to Disability Allowance at a weekly rate of €17.40 (reducing to €3.60 from 6 January 2010) and a child dependent allowance of €26.00 (increasing to €29.80 from 6 January 2010). Payment will be available for the person to collect at Ballina Post Office on 6 January 2010. Any arrears due her, less any overlapping payments, will issue to her shortly afterwards.