Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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148. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will support a matter (details supplied) regarding rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10300/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The rent supplement scheme provides support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are approximately 70,200 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015.

The Department has measures in place to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers at risk of homelessness 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 such circumstances in July and December 2014. A National Framework has also been developed to ensure that appropriate interventions continue to be provided in a consistent manner where rent supplement recipients have been threatened with homelessness due to rising rents.

The Department continues to monitor the measures in place to ensure that the appropriate supports continue to be provided to rent supplement recipients with the Interim Tenancy Sustainment protocol operating in Dublin now being extended to include single persons and couples; the protocol was also extended to Cork city in January 2015. The protocol has assisted approximately 390 families to date. The Department’s response to the current difficulties in the private rented market remains under close review.

Following engagement with the Department the main property websites have removed the advertising option which filtered rent supplement recipients from their websites. The Department is also engaging with the Department of Justice and Equality regarding the issue of some potential landlords refusing rent supplement tenancies and welcomes the recent announcement that they propose to address the issue with an amendment contained in the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2015.

It remains open to any person who has been refused a private tenancy and who feels discriminated against on the basis of the nine grounds set out in the equality legislation to refer a discrimination complaint to the Equality Tribunal under the Equal Status Acts.

If an existing tenant in receipt of rent supplement has an issue with rent levels they should contact their local Community Welfare Service representative for assistance.