Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 173: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will introduce criteria for refusal of rent assistance on the basis of criminal or anti-social behaviour in line with the criteria used by local authorities in the allocation of houses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14308/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Social Welfare legislation already provides the Health Service Executive with the authority to refuse payment of a rent supplement in the case of a person who has been required to deliver up possession of a dwelling provided by a housing authority or an approved body where the reasons for that requirement include anti-social behaviour or the interests of good estate management.

In the case of private rented accommodation, tenancy arrangements involve a contract between the landlord and tenant and tenant behaviour is a matter for the landlord in the first instance. There are 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 the enforcement of the law in dealing with anti-social or criminal behaviour. If necessary, the landlord may seek termination of the tenancy which, if effected, would result in the termination of rent supplement.

In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, it is intended to review the operation of the rent supplement scheme with a view to introducing a code of conduct for rent supplement eligibility similar to that which operates for local authority tenants.