John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1. To ask the Minister for Social Protection why the rent caps for counties Cork and Limerick are 25% higher than those for County Kerry when there is the same demand, especially in Killarney, Tralee and Daingean Uí Chúis; if she will adjust the figures in County Kerry to match these higher rates with immediate effect; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8642/16]

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

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. There are currently over 1,600 rent supplement recipients in county Kerry. Properties are being secured under the scheme with over 20,100 rent supplement tenancies awarded during 2015, of which almost 800 were in the Kerry area.

Revised rent limits under the rent supplement scheme came into effect from June 2013. These rent limits were determined following an extensive review of the private rental market based on the most up-to-date data available at that time. The Department used information from rental tenancies registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board and other data sources to inform the review process, including the Central Statistics Office Rental Indices, leading property websites and views of stakeholders. Major population centres in each county were examined as part of this review process.

In view of the supply difficulties in the private rented market a key finding of the Department’s most recent rent limit review was that rent supplement policy must continue to allow for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of current limits. Copies of the Department’s rent review reports are available on www.welfare.ie.

The Department has implemented a 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. This targeted approach has assisted over 7,600 rent supplement households nationwide to retain or acquire rented accommodation through increased rent payments, of which 57 households are in Kerry. A county breakdown of these cases is provided in the following tabular statement. It should be noted that there is very limited availability of advertised properties for the private residential market in the areas referred to by the Deputy, notably Killarney and Daingean Uí Chúis.

I believe the targeted approach of the Department 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. The matter remains under close review.

Total Increased Rental Payments by County as at 25/04/2016