Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

48. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the approximate cost of increasing the maximum rent limits within the rent supplement scheme by 5% in the four Dublin local authority areas as well as Cork city and Galway city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36379/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. 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 currently approximately 73,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.

The cost of increasing payments under the rent supplement scheme by 5% for recipients in the three counties of Dublin, Cork and Galway would be in the region of €11.5 million. A breakdown of these costs in respect of the Dublin local authorities, Galway city and Cork city is not available.

A review of the maximum rent limits is underway within the Department and will be considered as part of the forthcoming budgetary process.