Written answers

Thursday, 30 January 2014

Department of Social Protection

Private Rented Accommodation Provision

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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111. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate, arising from an inquiry received from a person (details supplied) in County Kildare requesting that they secure a rent reduction in respect of the private rented property occupied by themselves and their family, whether the acute housing shortage in the area resulting in rent increase has been noted; if, in such circumstances, consideration will be given to suspending any such requests; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4788/14]

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan 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. It is not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently over 82,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million funding in 2013.

The Department completed a review of the maximum rent limits for rent supplement last year and revised rent limits came into effect from 17 June 2013. The emphasis of the review was to ensure that value for money is achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market for private rented accommodation. The review broadly reflects the new market trends showing a rise in rent limits in Counties Dublin and Galway and a fall in the majority of rural counties. Special provisions are made in exceptional circumstances including, for example, people with disabilities in specially adapted accommodation.

In general a client who has been reviewed and is required to bring their rents within the required statutory limits is afforded 12 weeks to do this as this may require a renegotiation of rent or a need to source alternative accommodation. The client referred to received notification regarding their rent limit in September 2013. As there has been no rent reduction or alternative accommodation notified to the Department a second notification issued on 14th January 2014 and the Department awaits a response.

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