Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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169. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her views on introducing reforms to the rent supplement scheme which would enable those on low incomes to avail of a portion of rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48262/14]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Independent)
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176. To ask the Minister for Social Protection following recent research from the Private Residential Tenancies Board, which shows that rents across the State have continued to increase, if she will increase rent supplement payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48401/14]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 176 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.

I am acutely aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation in areas of high demand in the current market in line with the findings by the Private Residential Tenancies Board. I am keeping the matter regarding rent limits under consideration and the review being undertaken by the Department will be finalised shortly. However, the Department is in a position of both significant influence in the private rented market and responsibility and there is a real concern that increased rent limits may add to further rental inflation and impact, not alone on rent supplement recipients, but also on many lower income workers, their families and students.

Emergency actions are being undertaken within the administration of the rent supplement scheme through the increased use of flexibility in relation to rent limits, including under the Interim Tenancy Sustainment Protocol operating in Dublin. A notice reminding all Community Welfare Service staff of their statutory discretionary power to award a supplement for rental purposes, for example, when dealing with applicants who are at risk of losing their tenancy was circulated in July 2014 and a further instruction issued last week.

Staff are increasing rental payments as necessary and are actively engaging with the various local authorities and organisations involved in homelessness. The Department is reviewing the local arrangements in place throughout the country to strengthen the existing framework to ensure that the necessary supports continue to be provided in a consistent manner.

I 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 in Dublin at 1800 454 454 or their local Community Welfare Service throughout the country.

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, a person on rent supplement who is deemed by a local authority to be eligible to participate in the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) scheme may engage in full-time employment and retain entitlement. Payment is subject to the standard means test and may continue while the local authority is making arrangements to transfer the tenant to RAS.

The Department’s strategic policy direction is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of a short-term income support scheme. Under the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need will transfer to local authorities. To date, over 390 persons have transferred to HAP in the selected local authorities. HAP will provide a more integrated system of housing supports and has been designed to allow any households that find full-time employment to remain in the scheme.