Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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15. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans for changes in the rent allowance caps, in view of the continuing upward spiral in private rents, and the way this is contributing to rising homelessness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24841/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Rent supplement plays a vital role in supporting 68,000 families and individuals at a cost of €298 million. Over 5,600 claims have been awarded in 2015, of which almost 1,600 are in Dublin. The Department’s recent review of rent limits points out that the main cause of difficulty for persons renting and seeking to rent is the reduced availability of affordable private rented accommodation. In this regard, the Government will deliver significantly increased supply of social and affordable housing through the Construction 2020 Strategy and the Social Housing Strategy. My colleague Minister Alan Kelly announced recently the first major direct build social housing programme with the kick-starting of over 100 separate housing projects. The move is part of the first phase of direct-build under the Government’s social housing strategy. €312 million has been approved by the Minister which will see an additional 1,700 social housing units come on stream by 2017 with an estimated 3,000 additional jobs in construction created.

The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, has also advised his intention to bring proposals on rent certainty to Government before the summer recess.

In addition, my Department has implemented preventative measures to provide for flexibility in assessing customers’ accommodation needs through the National Tenancy Sustainment Framework. Under this approach, tenant’s circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis and rents are being increased above prescribed limits. The Department also works with Threshold’s Tenancy Sustainment service in Dublin and Cork city where supply is most acute. This flexible approach has already assisted over 2,100 rent supplement households nationwide, of which 1,400 are in Dublin, through increased rent payments.

Where Department staff are notified of a threat of tenancy loss the preventative measures are implemented as appropriate. The Department has also undertaken a communications campaign to encourage people at risk to avail of these measures to prevent an unnecessary episode of homelessness. I am continuing to keep this matter under review.