Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount the Health Service Executive paid in rent allowance in 2010 from centres (details supplied); the number of rent supplements paid to families or individuals by the centres; the number of inspections carried out by the centres prior to approving rent allowance; and the number of payments that have been withheld by the Health Services Executive at the centres as a result of a notification by Dublin City Council of non-compliance with housing standards. [28347/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The community welfare service (CWS), and the community welfare officers providing it, transferred formally to the Department of Social Protection (DSP) from 1 October 2011. The service and the staff are now part of the DSP. The number of rent supplement tenancies in respect of the specified offices and the expenditure incurred are set out in the tabular statement.

It is standard practice, in the areas in question, that officers would view accommodation prior to the issue of rent supplement in order to verify the tenancy and ascertain the nature of the accommodation. However, a home visit is not always required, as the Department may already be familiar with the accommodation, and have established the applicant's residency.

In 2010, a total of 7 premises in the areas specified were notified to the CWS as not meeting the required Housing Standards. As these are multiple occupancy premises, i.e., bed-sits, flats or apartments, it is not possible to specify how many individual applications were refused as a consequence of notifications received from Dublin City Council. Prospective tenants of these notified accommodations would be advised, in advance of completing a tenancy agreement, of the non-availability of rent supplement for these premises.

Tabular Statement

Rent Supplement

Tenancies and Expenditure for selected offices - 2010