Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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199. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she has considered postponing three-monthly and six-monthly community welfare reviews of rent supplement entitlements for tenants, which are providing landlords with the opportunity to increase the cost of the rent mid-lease; if she is aware that many persons are becoming homeless, having run into arrears, while their payments are suspended during these reviews. [37639/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 63,000 people at a cost of over €298 million in 2015.

Rent supplement claims are generally reviewed once to twice yearly. Reviews are a key control of the scheme ensuring that the correct rate of the supplement is paid to those who continue to meet the conditions of the scheme. Rent supplement claims under review are not normally suspended other than where the customer has not provided the necessary information. In such cases, payments are generally restored and payments backdated when the information requested is provided. If the deputy has a particular case he should refer the detail to the Department for investigation.

A landlord can only increase the rent once in any 12 month period, and cannot increase within 12 months of the commencement of the tenancy except in limited circumstances such as a complete refurbishment of the property which affects the market rent of the dwelling.

Persons in receipt of rent supplement who may be at risk of losing their tenancy are advised to contact the Community Welfare Service dealing with their rent supplement claim as soon as possible. Persons in Dublin or Cork city experiencing difficulties are also encouraged to avail of the Tenancy Protection Service operated by Threshold available at 1800 454 454.