Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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31. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the caps currently in place on the rent supplement scheme; if she will provide an update on the HAP scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4912/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are currently approximately 71,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. 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. The Department is finalising a review of the maximum rent limits and 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 and students. I am keeping the matter under close review.The Department has put measures in place to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers throughout the country are addressed by providing for increased flexibility within the administration of the rent supplement scheme. Notices circulated to Community Welfare Service staff reminding them of their discretionary power to award, on a case by case basis, a supplement for rental purposes in July and December 2014. A National Framework has also been developed to ensure that appropriate supports continue to be provided under the rent supplement scheme throughout the country in a consistent manner. The Interim Tenancy Sustainment Protocol introduced in the Dublin region during 2014 has recently been extended to Cork city.

Under the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need will transfer from this Department to housing authorities. HAP is currently being rolled out to selected housing authorities and there are some 706 HAP recipients, of which 242 are in the Limerick area. The Department continues to support the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, and housing authorities to ensure the success of the HAP scheme.