Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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43. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to review the rent limits under the rent supplement scheme in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47543/14]

Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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47. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount allocated for rent allowance in each of the years 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; the distribution on a county basis; and the number of persons facilitated in each county during each year. [47568/14]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 47 together.

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. There are approximately 71,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. Rent supplement expenditure and recipients by county from 2008 to date are provided in the attached tabular statements, expenditure by county is not available. There are currently over 1,700 rent supplement recipients in Meath, of which 520 were awarded this year, which represents over 30% of the total in payment.

I am keeping the matter regarding rent limits under consideration and the review being undertaken by the Department will be finalised shortly.

I am acutely aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation in areas of high demand in the current market, including those in receipt of rent supplement. However, raising rent limits may not be the solution to the problem as it is likely to add to further rental inflation and could impact, not alone on rent supplement recipients, but also on many lower income workers, their families and students.

The Department has put measures in place to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers throughout the country who are in danger of becoming homeless are being addressed by providing for increased flexibility within the administration of the rent supplement scheme. Earlier this year, a notice was circulated to all Community Welfare Service staff reminding them of their discretionary power to award, on a case by case basis, a supplement for rental purposes, for example, when dealing with applicants who are at risk of losing their tenancy. Further instructions are issuing this week to ensure that the necessary supports continue to be provided and that there is consistency throughout the country.

Staff are increasing rent supplement payments as necessary and are actively engaging with the relevant local authorities and local organisations involved in homelessness. The Department is reviewing the local arrangements in place to strengthen the existing framework.

I strongly advise that where a person in receipt of rent supplement is at risk of losing their tenancy they should make contact with the Tenancy Protection Service provided by Threshold on 1800 454 454 in Dublin or their local Community Welfare Service throughout the country.



Table 1: Rent Supplement End of Year Recipient Numbers & Expenditure: 2008 to Date