Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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125. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will clarify for those who come off lone parents allowance early and therefore cannot avail of jobseeker's transition due to employment but still struggle with the costs of childcare, the reason they cannot avail of the pilot after school childcare supports as part of the jobseeker's transition and the reason more childcare supports are not in place for lone parents already engaging in labour activation but are living with existing family requirements such as increased childcare costs during the summer months; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned is in receipt of Rent Supplement of €970 per month. However, the rent currently being paid exceeds the maximum amount for which a supplement is payable and the person has been advised on a number of occasions to seek a reduction in rent from the landlord, to a level that comes within the statutory maximum limit. In order to allow the person additional time to seek a reduction in rent or to seek alternative accommodation that falls within the rental limit applicable to the family circumstances, it was decided to continue payment of the rent supplement for a further period. The period allowed is to the end of July 2013, in consideration of the fact that the person’s children are undertaking exams.

New maximum rent limits were recently announced and the person concerned may now seek a voluntary reduction from the landlord or seek new accommodation within the new appropriate maximum rent limit of €1000.