Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

7. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount she spent on rent supplement in 2015; the number of households she assisted; the average monthly rent supplement she paid per household in County Dublin and outside County Dublin; and the number of households on rent supplement in January and December 2015. [6301/16]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

46. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to immediately raise rent supplement limits in line with market rent; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6904/16]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

65. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of households to date that have had their rent supplement increased above the agreed thresholds by county in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7204/16]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 46 and 65 together.

Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 57,600 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016 (with provisional outturn of over €311 million in 2015). There were over 20,100 rent supplement tenancies awarded during 2015 and over 3,000 awarded during the first three months of 2016 showing that landlords are accommodating significant numbers of people under the scheme.

A county breakdown of rent supplement recipients for January and December 2015 and the end of March 2016 is provided in the attached tabular statement. There are currently approximately 22,800 tenancies in Dublin and 34,800 tenancies outside of Dublin. The average monthly cost for a tenancy supported in Dublin is €560 per month, for tenancies outside Dublin the average monthly cost is €310 per month.

In terms of rent limits, the Department undertook a review of these limits in 2015 and found that the impact of increasing limits at a time of constrained supply in the private rented market will increase costs disproportionately for the Exchequer with little or no new housing available to recipients. The Department has instead implemented a national targeted policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the limits for both existing customers and new applicants to the rent supplement scheme. The circumstances of tenants are considered on a case-by-case basis and rents are being increased above prescribed limits, as appropriate. In addition, the Department, in conjunction with Threshold, operates a special protocol in the Dublin and Cork areas where supply issues are particularly acute, with plans underway to extend this to other urban and commuter areas.

This flexible and targeted approach has assisted over 7,450 rent supplement households nationwide to retain or acquire rented accommodation through increased rent payments. A county breakdown of these cases is provided in the tabular statement.

I believe this targeted approach and the recent legislative reforms announced to the private rental sector provide a level of stability for those who require rent supplement support in what has become a highly volatile rental market.

Rent Supplement Recipients by County

Increased Rent Supplement Payments by County as at 11th April 2016