Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will confirm that persons with special needs such as those with disabilities or those coming from situations of homelessness may have higher rent levels under the rent supplement scheme due to their specialised housing requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30831/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The purpose of the rent supplement scheme 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 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 approximately 92,800 persons in receipt of rent supplement, with €436 million provided for 2012.

Rent supplement is subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant may incur. The general practice is that rent supplement is not paid where the rent is above the relevant limit.

However, rent supplement may be paid in cases where the rent is above the relevant limit where there are special housing needs related to exceptional circumstances. This may include a person with a disability in specially-adapted accommodation or homeless persons whose housing needs cannot be met within the standard terms of the rent supplement scheme.