Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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16. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on media reports that a family in Dublin have been forced out of their home due to a €400 monthly rent hike which they could not afford due to the cap on rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10467/14]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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25. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the most recent available data (details supplied) clearly shows that market rents in north east portion of County Kildare are 80% higher than those in southern Kildare for a three bedroom accommodation; if she considers the average 12% higher rate of rent supplement limit for the north east Kildare region adequate in view of the fact that the difference in market rents is far more extreme; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that average market rents in north east Kildare are at the same level as west Dublin even though rent supplement limits are much higher for the latter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10340/14]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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32. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the steps she will take to address the rising crisis of homelessness amongst families recently highlighted by the Dublin Region Homeless Executive; her views on the contribution that the rent supplement caps make to the growing problem of homelessness; and if she has discussed the matter with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in the wake of the DRHE report. [10346/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 25 and 32 together.

There are currently approximately 78,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.

Following an extensive review of the private rental market revised maximum rent limits were introduced from Monday 17 June 2013 until 31 December 2014. The purpose of the review is to ensure availability of accommodation for rent supplement tenancies and not to provide access to all housing in all areas while ensuring that maximum value for money is achieved.

Despite the overall pressures on the Social Protection budget, there have been increases in the rent limits in Dublin, Galway, North Kildare and Bray areas.

There are currently 4,090 rent supplement recipients in County Kildare, of which approximately 940 reside in the North Kildare area indicating that it is possible to secure accommodation within the rent limits.

Department officials dealing with rent supplement tenants continue to make every effort to ensure that their accommodation needs are met. In relation to the family referred to in the media, I do not propose to comment further on the details of this particular case other than to advise that the Department is engaging with them.

I assume that the Deputy is referring to media reports last week after the Dublin Region Homeless Executive presented 2013 figures to Dublin City Council, the detail of which has not been published. However, I welcome the publication of the First Report of the Homelessness Oversight Group which was recently presented to Government. The Group's recommendations will be supported by the Department in its roles in supporting those who are homeless.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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18. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding proposals to introduce a housing assistance payment and thereby transfer recipients of rent supplement from her Department to local authorities. [10339/14]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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24. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will change the policy whereby those who are working full time are not eligible for rent allowance as this forces many in low paid jobs into poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10474/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 18 and 24 together.

There are currently approximately 78,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation.

Rent supplement is not generally payable where a person or their spouse/partner is in full time employment, i.e. 30 hours or more per week. However, since 2007, a person on rent supplement who is deemed by a local authority to be eligible to participate in the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) may engage in full-time employment, subject to satisfying the standard means test, and may still be paid rent supplement.

The Department's strategic policy direction is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of a short-term income support. In July 2013, the Government approved the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) under which responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need will transfer from this Department to local authorities. Payments under the HAP scheme will be based on the local authority differential rent means test under which the full-time employment restriction does not apply and therefore will remove a key barrier to persons on social welfare in getting back to work.

Officials in the Department of Social Protection are working with those in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, who are leading the project, in developing proposals to give effect to this transfer. It is intended that the scheme will be piloted in Limerick local authority by end March 2014 with further roll out to selected local authorities during the year.