Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 153: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views in regard to the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 20; and her further views on whether persons are penalised for taking up work. [34924/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The community welfare service and the community welfare officers providing it, transferred formally to the Department of Social Protection from 1 October 2011.

The person concerned was in receipt of a monthly rent allowance of €812 up to September 2011 when she commenced a community employment scheme. Her entitlement to rent allowance was reviewed due to her change in circumstances and a revised rent allowance of €356.85 was incorrectly assessed. This error has now been rectified and her monthly rate has been reassessed at €512.85 with effect from October 2011. Payment of two months' rent allowance will issue to her on 29 November 2011.

If the person concerned is not happy with her current rent allowance entitlement it is open to her to submit an appeal to the social welfare appeals office citing her grounds for appeal.

In relation to the position of people on social welfare payments taking up employment a relatively small cohort of people are in a position where the difference between in-work income and out of work income reduces the incentive to work. The degree of financial disincentive varies very significantly depending on individual circumstances such as the number of dependent children and the receipt of rent or mortgage supplement.

As a support to families on low income my Department administers the family income supplement which is a weekly payment for families, including one parent families where income from insurable employment is below a fixed amount for the family size.

In relation to rent allowance, a multi-agency steering group established by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government are currently developing proposals and operational protocols for the transfer of responsibility from the Department of Social Protection to housing authorities of persons who have long term housing requirements. The focus of this approach is to achieve a key Government commitment of removing barriers to employment and at the same time returning rent supplement to its original purpose of a short-term income support.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for rent allowance for a new address in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34927/11]

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 person concerned has made an application for rent supplement on the 10th of October and has been requested to provide further information in order to process her claim. A decision will be made on her application when the information has been provided.