Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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Question 353: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the review of rent supplement limits in certain Wicklow towns has been concluded; the towns that were included in the review; the evidential findings of the review on the rent levels in each town; the outcome of the review for limits in each town; and if the limits have not been changed in any of the towns, the justification for same. [21474/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The new maximum rent limits which came into force on 1 January 2012 are in line with the most up to date market data available. The emphasis of the rent limit review was to ensure that value for money is achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market for private rented accommodation. The analysis of the rental market for Wicklow carried out by the Department found that rental prices for Bray were having a distorting effect on the prices for Wicklow as a whole. Accordingly, for the purpose of establishing rent limits for Co. Wicklow, Bray was excluded. Department officials have completed a separate analysis of the rental market in the Bray, Delgany and Greystones area. Local rent limits are now in place and are set out in the tabular statement below. Rent Supplement Rent limits for Bray, Greystones and Delgany