Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 234: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the approximate percentage of rent supplement tenancies where the tenant pays rent to a letting agency. [42250/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the relevant rent supplement legislation, the Department's relationship is with the tenant; the tenant makes the application for rent supplement and payment is made to the tenant. It is not possible to say how many tenants pay their rent to a letting agent.

Legislation does, however, provide for the making of a rent supplement payment to another person (e.g. a relative, a landlord or landlord's agent) on behalf of the recipient. This arrangement is generally at the tenant's request and is subject to the consent of the Health Service Executive. The proportion of rent supplement payments which are paid to a person other than the recipient is 20%.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 235: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason farm assist was reduced in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [42254/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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When the spouse of the person concerned was s awarded illness benefit in September 2009, his farm assist payment became subject to a limitation. Due to an oversight, he continued to receive his payment at the higher rate of €192. However, his rate of payment was reduced to the correct amount of €183.40 from 27 October 2010.