Written answers

Thursday, 14 June 2012

Department of Social Protection

Rent Supplement Scheme

4:00 pm

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 148 of 23 May 2012, if she will provide the current information referred to that shows that there is accommodation available at the new maximum rent supplement limits in Ratoath, Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28699/12]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from another source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently 93,800 persons in receipt of rent supplement, with €436m provided in 2012.

As the Department currently funds approximately 40% of the private rented sector it is essential that State support for rents are kept under review, reflect current market conditions and do not distort the market in a way that could increase rent prices for others, such as low paid workers and students. For all counties, 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. In the case of Meath the following areas were isolated for consideration: Ashbourne; Athboy; Bettystown; Dunshaughlin; Navan; Trim; Ratoath; Kells; Laytown; Enfield; and the rest of Meath county as a whole. Current information shows there is accommodation available at the new maximum rent limits in county Meath.

Analysis of the Ratoath, Dunboyne and Dunshaughlin markets shows that there are a limited number of rental properties available in comparison to those available in the rest of the county. However, according to one of the leading property websites, some shared accommodation is available within the prescribed limits. It is important to bear in mind 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 and it must be stressed that there will be no case of homelessness from this measure.

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