Alan Farrell (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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60. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the action she will take on a matter (details supplied), where a tenant in receipt of rent supplement did not pass this on to the landlord and, when this was reported to the local social welfare office on at least two occasions, payment to the tenant continued for several months; the further action she will take to more effectively prevent such abuse of the rent supplement system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1062/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The payment of Rent Supplement is a matter between the Department and the tenant, subject to the tenant satisfying the eligibility criteria and payment issues directly to the tenant. Where the Department is notified of issues regarding a tenant not passing the Rent Supplement to the landlord, the Department can request the tenant to authorise payment directly to the landlord. This can only be arranged with the tenant’s consent.

Any contract/lease agreement that exists between the tenant and the landlord is a private matter, regardless of whether or not Rent Supplement is in payment. Any difficulties that arise between the two parties are a matter for either party to resolve or to pursue through the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) or through civil proceedings.

In this case, the landlord contacted the Department on 23 May 2014 to state that the tenant had not paid rent for 4/5 months. Rent Supplement was immediately suspended, pending a review of the case. However, the review did not take place and payment was reinstated on 30 May 2014.

In September 2014, the Department received notification that the client had commenced employment. On foot of this, payment of Rent Supplement was suspended with effect from 3rd of September 2014, pending a review of entitlement. As part of the review, the Department contacted the landlord to ascertain if the matter regarding the non-payment of rent by the tenant had been resolved. The landlord confirmed that he had a PRTB hearing date for either September or October, although he could not confirm the date. As part of the review, the tenant was requested to authorise the Rent Supplement to be paid directly to the landlord. The tenant consented to this request and the Rent Supplement for September and October 2014 issued directly to the landlord’s bank account. The tenancy ceased shortly thereafter.