Derek Nolan (Galway West, Labour)
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107. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reconsider her Department's eligibility requirements for separated parents in respect of their accommodation needs in light of a recent court ruling (details supplied) from October 2014; if this ruling will be taken into consideration in the decision-making process in respect of the needs of their children; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1636/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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As acknowledged in the Judgement referred to by the Deputy, the legislation governing entitlement to rent supplement already provides that decision makers must have due regard to the circumstances of an individual and the relationship with his/her children in terms of financial and material support and dependency. In this particular case however, the Judge considered that the decision makers did not have regard to certain specified matters relating to financial and material support in deciding the case and remitted the matter to be re-considered in the light of those issues.

The fact that one parent is in receipt of rent supplement would not in itself preclude the other parent from being entitled to assistance towards his or her rent. In these situations, the circumstances of both parents are taken into account when an application for a rent supplement is being determined including matters relating to financial and material support in relation to their children.

Persons seeking a rent supplement must first satisfy a decision maker that they have a housing need that they are unable to meet from within their own resources. In addition, the decision maker must be satisfied that the residence is reasonably suited to the residential and other needs of the claimant and that the rent payable is reasonable having regard to the nature, character and location of the residence.