Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Socialist Party)
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25. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of the rising numbers entering the private rented sector and the continued increasing of rents, if she will revise the cap on rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24835/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Rent supplement continues to play a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 68,000 people this year 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 carried out a review of the maximum rent limits which found that increasing rent limits could potentially add to further rental inflation in an already distressed market, affecting not alone rent supplement recipients, but lower-income workers and students. Between rent supplement and the Rental Accommodation Scheme administered by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, the State accounts for a third of the private rented market and is, therefore, a very significant player in the sector.

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

The Department has also undertaken a communications campaign to encourage people at risk to make contact with the Department or the Threshold Tenancy Protection service. I can assure the Deputy that I am keeping this matter under review to ensure that the necessary supports continue to be provided.

Finally, it should be noted that my colleague Alan Kelly T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, intends to bring proposals in relation to rent certainty to Government before the summer recess.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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26. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of reports (details supplied) of rising numbers entering the private rented sector, if she will revise the cap on rent supplement. [24827/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Rent supplement continues to play a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 68,000 people this year at a cost of €298 million. Over 5,600 claims have been awarded in 2015, of which almost 1,600 are in Dublin.

As outlined in the report referred to by the Deputy, the main cause of rising rents is a lack of supply in the market and the implementation of the range of actions under the Construction 2020 Strategy and the Social Housing Strategy will support increased housing supply. My colleague, Alan Kelly T.D., Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, intends to bring proposals in relation to rent certainty to Government before the summer recess.

The Department carried out a review of the maximum rent limits with found that increasing rent limits at this time could potentially add to further rental inflation in an already distressed market, affecting not alone rent supplement recipients, but lower-income workers and students.

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

The Department has also undertaken a communications campaign to encourage people at risk to contact the Department or the Threshold Tenancy Protection service.