Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Social Protection when the current review of rent assistance will be finalised and made public; if she will confirm, with respect to County Kildare, if her proposals are to continue the assessment of persons for the assistance based on all county rate or if she intends to base new awarding criteria on the difference in market rent prices across the county, and in other similar counties; if she has consulted local community welfare officers in the northern Kildare region as part of this review; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28059/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are currently 93,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €436 million for 2012. The current maximum rent limits were set after an analysis of the most up to date market data available. Consultation with a number of staff administering the scheme was undertaken as part of the review process.

The emphasis of the rent limit review was to ensure that maximum value for money for tenants and the taxpayer was achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market. The report is available on the Department's website.

For all counties, all major urban population centres were tested as part of the review to ensure that rent supplement applicants can access temporary housing arrangements whilst seeking employment opportunities. Analysis shows that for Kildare, rental accommodation is available for rent supplement tenancies within the prescribed limits.

The number of rental properties available in North Kildare is somewhat lower than the numbers available in the rest of the county. It must be stressed, however, that the purpose of the review is to ensure availability of accommodation for rent supplement tenancies and not to provide rent supplement tenants with access to all housing in all areas.

Department officials dealing with rent supplement tenants will continue to ensure that their accommodation needs are met; there will be no incidence of homelessness due to these changes.

Rent levels are being monitored nationally - at this point I have no plans to revise the existing rent limits.