Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the possibility of requiring applicants for rent allowance to furnish character references as part of applications in line with the criteria being employed by local authorities in respect of the allocation of local authority houses. [3672/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The purpose of rent supplement 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 any other source. The scheme is intended as a temporary income support payment and is not designed to be a medium to long term housing support or a permanent solution to a person's housing needs. Applicants for rent supplement enter into a private arrangement with their landlord who may or may not require character references. The role of the Department is to provide income support to the tenant.