Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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118. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the action a person who cannot rent a house for the maximum rate allowed can take to secure a rented home. [52304/13]

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. There are approximately 80,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for 2013.

Revised rent limits under the rent supplement scheme have come into force with effect from Monday 17 June 2013 and will be in place until 31 December 2014. The new rent limits have been determined following an extensive review of the private rental market based on the most up-to-date data available. The Department currently funds up to 30% of the private rented sector so it is essential that the rent limits are kept under review. The new rent limits have been set using the 35th percentile ensuring that sufficient housing is available for recipients of the scheme.

Under the revised rent limits, there have been increases in the maximum rent limits in Dublin while there have been some reductions across a number of rural counties reflecting the conditions in the rental markets in those counties. Rent limits in County Kilkenny were maintained with the exception of the family with two children rate which reduced by €10 per month. In County Carlow there were reductions in some rent limit categories with the exception of the single person rate which increased.

As existing claims come up for review, or when an existing lease expires, they will be reassessed using the new limits. Where a claim is under review and the rent is above the new maximum limit the customer is being asked to contact the landlord to renegotiate the rent. Where a landlord does not agree to reduce the rent to the new rates departmental officials will discuss the options open to the tenant up to and including seeking alternative accommodation. Departmental guidance to the officers administering rent supplement states that where negotiation with the landlord fails then rent supplement may continue to be paid for a period of up to thirteen weeks at the higher rate. However, once the lease has expired the tenant will be expected to find suitable accommodation at below the new limits in force.

Analysis of the County Carlow and County Kilkenny rental market shows that there are a number of rental properties available within the prescribed limits. Department officials dealing with rent supplement tenants will continue to ensure that their accommodation needs are met and that the residence is reasonably suited to their residential and other needs.