Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 32: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans to improve communication between local authorities and tenants to ensure that means tests are updated accurately and any arrears developing are discussed at an early stage. [31210/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Local authority rents are set in accordance with a rent scheme adopted by each housing authority. The making and amending of these rent schemes are an integral part of a housing authority's housing management functions, subject to broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT 3/2002 of 6 March 2002 under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966 (as amended). Section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 will replace, once commenced, existing provisions in relation to differential rent schemes. Regulations and guidelines for housing authorities in relation to differential rent are currently in preparation in my Department. While it is not the intention to implement a national standardised differential rent scheme, the proposed regulations will more clearly set out the matters that may be included in a local rents scheme, including procedures for rent reviews.