Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that due to the refusal by her Department to provide rent support in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare they cannot have visits from their children due to their inability to provide accommodation from their own resources; if her further attention has been drawn to the fact that all information requested over the past two years has been supplied to no avail and the person is now attempting to pay for their rental accommodation; if she will confirm the number and status of leases they have supplied to her Department during the period in question; if an appeal or oral hearing is pending; when it might be deemed likely to offer rent support in this case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39569/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if and when rent supplement will issue in view of the contradictory reply to Parliamentary Question No. 96 of 5 July 2012 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37188/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 638 and 644 together.

The person concerned has been refused higher rent supplement to cover accommodation for himself and his child as the child is primarily accommodated with his mother and his housing need has already been met. This refusal has been upheld by the HSE appeals office. While the person concerned would qualify for rent supplement at the single rate for self-contained accommodation in Kildare, he has not provided any documentation to indicate that the rent has ever been reduced to that rate. Throughout the application process, the person concerned has only ever provided the Department with one lease which stated that the rent was €700.00 per month whereas the approved rent limit is €400.00 per month. If the person concerned wishes to appeal this decision, he must appeal directly to the Chief Appeals Officer who functions independently of the Department. An appeal can be sent in writing to Social Welfare Appeals Office, D’Olier House, D’Olier St, Dublin 2.