Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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139. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress to date in the context of the review of the maximum rent in respect of which rent allowance is paid with particular reference to the urgent need to address the situation whereby persons on local authority housing lists now find it impossible to obtain suitable rent supported alternative accommodation resulting in severe hardship; if she will outline the results of the review and her intentions to address the issues arising; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26262/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term income support to eligible tenants 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 approximately 86,000 persons in receipt of rent supplement for which the Government has provided a sum of over €403 million for 2013.

As the Department currently funds almost 30% of the private rented sector it is essential that State support for rents are continually kept under review, reflect current market conditions and do not distort the market in a way that could increase rent prices for others such as low-income workers and students.

I previously committed to a review of maximum rent limits by June with new limits in place from July. However, I am pleased to say that the Department is finalising the rent review with new rent limits expected to be in place in early June. I propose to advise the results of the review to my Government colleagues within the next week.