Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if the rent supplement payment of €790 for Leixlip, County Kildare, is correct in view of the increased competition with the rental market in north Kildare; his views on whether such a level of rent supplement is realistic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38792/12]

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 over 90,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €436 million for 2012.

The emphasis of the rent limit review was to ensure that maximum value for money for tenants and the taxpayer was achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market. Analysis shows that for Kildare, there are properties available within the maximum rent limits for rent supplement recipients. The maximum rent limit for a couple or one parent family, with three children in County Kildare is €790.

Latest figures show that there are currently 4,341 rent supplement recipients in County Kildare. When compared with Census 2011 household data this shows that 36% of properties rented from private landlords are in receipt of rent supplement in County Kildare.

The number of rental properties available in North Kildare is somewhat lower than the numbers available in the rest of the county. It must be stressed, however, that the purpose of the rent limit review was 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; there will be no incidence of homelessness due to these changes.

The Department will continue to monitor rent levels throughout the country but at this point I have no plans to revise the existing rent limits.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection the options available to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has been informed by her Department that their landlord must reduce their rent again from €800 to €725; her views on whether this rate is correct in view of the increased competition with the rental market in north Kildare; her further views on whether this level of rent supplement is realistic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38811/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The maximum rent limit for a one parent family, with two children in County Kildare is €725. Analysis shows that for Kildare, there are properties available within the maximum rent limits for rent supplement recipients. A review of this case is being undertaken and the person concerned will be informed of the outcome once the review is completed.