Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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45. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will raise the maximum rent supplement level to the levels recommended by the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness. [18773/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I have announced earlier this week that revised increased rent limits under the rent supplement scheme will be introduced with effect from this Friday, 1 July 2016. I can assure the Deputy that supports in relation to housing and the provision of financial supports, including the rent supplement scheme currently supporting some 55,000 recipients at a cost of €267 million in 2016, are a key priority as evidenced by the early implementation of this Government commitment.

In line with priority recommendations made in the report of the Oireachtas Committee on Housing and Homelessness, the review sets the rent limits in line with market rents which have been benchmarked at the 35^thpercentile of agreed rents as registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. Substantial levels of increases are being provided throughout the country, in both urban and rural areas, reflecting the local rental market conditions. Detail of the revised limits is available on the Department’s website at www.welfare.ie.

The new limits, combined with the flexible approach provided by the Department’s Community Welfare Service and the Tenancy Protection Service, operated by Threshold, will provide for increased security for persons seeking support under the rent supplement scheme. To date, over 8,700 persons at imminent risk of homelessness have been supported through increased payments under this flexible approach.

I would urge that any person experiencing increased rents or facing the threat of the loss of their tenancy under rent supplement to contact the Department’s Community Welfare Service or the Threshold Tenancy Protection service without delay.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.