Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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666. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the process whereby private landlords are asked to sign welfare forms for tenants giving them undue control over on individual tenant's right to apply for welfare such as rent assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24780/16]

John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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669. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will increase the rent supplement cap for County Kerry to reflect rent prices in the county, most especially for single persons, in light of a recent report (details supplied) which shows the average rent of a one bedroom apartment in Kerry at €434; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26068/16]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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675. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of family units who are recipients of the rent allowance within each local authority area and county by location within that authority or county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25092/16]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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809. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients and cost to the Exchequer of rent supplement, rent supplement uplifts and housing assistance payment in 2015 and in 2016 to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26127/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 666, 669, 675 and 809 together.

Supports in relation to housing and the provision of financial supports, including the rent supplement scheme, which is currently supporting some 51,800 recipients at a cost of €267 million in 2016, are a key priority for Government. A county breakdown of rent supplement recipients is provided in the attached tabular statement, this information is not maintained by local authority area.

The Deputies will be aware that the rent limits under the rent supplement scheme were recently increased effective from 1 July 2016. The review process undertaken represents a realignment of the maximum rent limits with agreed rents, with rents generally benchmarked against the 35th percentile of those rents registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. The review’s methodology was conducted in the same manner for all counties. The increases provided are evidenced based and reflect the pressures on rental properties in each particular location. The rent limits for all counties are benchmarked considering the main urban centre impacting the county’s rental market. In county Kerry and in line with earlier rent reviews, the limits are benchmarked against the major urban centre of Tralee. Rental prices in areas of significant tourist activity in county Kerry are both high in pricing and long term let properties are also in very short supply. Discretion will continue to be applied by my Department’s Community Welfare Service staff for such areas in excess of the general county limits.

In recognition of the ongoing difficulties in the rented market, my Department continues to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach where rents may exceed the maximum limits. This ensures people at risk of homelessness through the loss of their tenancy continue to be supported under the rent supplement scheme. Over 8,900 people at imminent risk of homelessness were supported through increased payments under the rent supplement scheme, with some 135 households assisted in County Kerry. A county breakdown of this information is provided in the tabular statement attached.

In determining whether the applicant is a bona fide tenant, which is a key requirement for the scheme, the Department will generally require documentary evidence including; signed documentation from both landlord and tenant, proof of ownership of the property, documentation that the tenancy has been registered with the Residential Tenancies Board, details of the lease agreement and documentation detailing payments made to the landlord. This verification process is an integral control element in the administration of the rent supplement scheme, and ensures conditions for entitlement continue to be met. There is no direct contractual relationship between the landlord and the Department in the administration of the scheme.

Reporting on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

Tabular Statement, Table 1- Rent Supplement Recipients by County

Table 2 - Total Increased Rental Payments by County as of End Dec. 2015

Tabular Statement - Total Cumulative Increased Payments by County as of 12 September 2016