Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a tenant has handed back the keys of their council property due to serious anti-social behaviour, if this person is entitled to apply for rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30927/12]

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.

Social welfare legislation provides the Department with the authority to refuse, suspend or terminate payment of a rent supplement in the case of a person who has been required to deliver up possession of a dwelling provided by a housing authority or an approved body. This can be due to anti-social behaviour of the tenant or the interests of good estate management.