Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 150: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the total number of rent supplement claimants; the number to whom the new limits now apply and within that the number who were existing claimants prior to 1 January; her response to the increasing number of claimants who are struggling to convince their landlords to accept the lower payment and or who cannot find alternative appropriate accommodation at the lower rent limit; and if she will confirm if her Department will deal directly with landlords in these situations. [28031/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 152: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will undertake a review of the rent support system operated by her Department in view of the discrepancy in rent charged by landlords within the various local authority administrative areas and where local markets demand or pressure is not recognised by way of variation in the maximum rent eligible for support thereby causing hardship to families who do not have access to local authority housing and happen to live in areas in which there is a higher housing demand resulting in higher rents; if any effort can be made to take into account such variations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27996/12]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has anticipated the number of tenants who have been forced to move house or who will be forced to do so as a result of the rent allowance cuts which have come into effect since Budget 2012; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28056/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 150, 152 and 154 together.

There are currently approximately 93,800 persons in receipt of rent supplement, for which the Government has provided €436million for 2012.

New maximum rent limits were introduced from January 2012 following analysis of the most up-to-date market data available. The emphasis of the 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 for private rented accommodation.

The revised limits are applicable to new rent supplement tenancies from January 2012 and existing tenancies on review. Approximately 21,300 claims have been awarded in 2012, indicating that it is possible to secure accommodation within the revised limits. There were 96,800 persons in receipt of rent supplement at the end of 2011.

Where rents are in excess of the limit, customers are being asked to contact their landlord and renegotiate the rent. Where landlords do not agree to reduce the rent within the limits, staff will discuss the options open to the tenant, including seeking alternative accommodation. Information on the numbers securing alternative accommodation is not available. The Department does not intend negotiating directly with landlords to reduce rents on behalf of a tenant.

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 and at this point I have no plans to revise any of the existing rent limits.