Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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38. To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of the difficulties facing rent allowance tenants in obtaining housing, her views on the need for measures to allow tenants to have their rent allowance pre-approved prior to contacting a landlord, in order to simplify the process of obtaining housing on rent allowance and to incentivise landlords to accept tenants on rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26687/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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57. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 205 of 26 May 2015, in which it is stated that the means test takes account of the income of a person or a couple in terms of cash and property other than the family home, but does not clarify the position in regard to a spouse who has received a cash settlement in lieu of this spouse's interest in the family home in the course of a separation, if she will clarify if the person receiving cash in lieu of retaining an interest in the family home is subject to having that cash assessed as means, whereas the partner who retains an interest in the family home in the same settlement is not subject to means assessment in respect of the family home; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26865/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 57 together.

Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 67,000 people at a total cost of €298 million. Over 10,000 new tenancies have been processed since the start of the year, showing that landlords are accommodating persons under the scheme.

Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement, the Department’s relationship is with the tenant. The tenant’s engagement with the Department usually takes place after the tenant has reached an agreement with the landlord. The Department must verify the existence of a valid tenancy before a claim can be processed. Where all the necessary information is available every effort is made to ensure that rent supplement claims are processed as quickly as possible. It should be noted that under the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), responsibility for new applicants with long-term housing needs transfers from this Department to the local authorities. HAP is now being rolled out in 13 local authority areas with further roll-out scheduled later in the year. I have no plans to amend the conditions of the rent supplement scheme at this time.

As previously advised to the Deputy, rent supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme (SWA), is a statutory means-tested scheme which is payable at differentiated rates of payment, taking into account the applicant’s means and accommodation requirements. All income a person or couple has in terms of cash, property (other than the home) and capital are assessable as means. This includes means derived from a cash settlement following separation, including that in lieu of the family home. In the case of rent supplement, the person living in the family home would not qualify for the scheme as their accommodation needs are being met.

The combination of the means test and awarding differentiated rates of payment is premised on ensuring that social welfare payments are paid to those most in need.