John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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16. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the increase in the rent allowance limit recently announced for County Kerry; the revised limit set for Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28744/16]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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34. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will revise the limits for rent supplement in the Fingal area in view of the acute housing and homelessness crisis there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28787/16]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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48. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the changes to the rent supplement scheme in County Offaly. [28432/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 34 and 48 together. The rent supplement scheme is supporting some 50,700 tenants at a cost of €267 million in 2016.

The rent limits under this scheme were increased effective from 1 July 2016. The review process undertaken represented a realignment of the maximum rent limits with agreed rents, with rents generally benchmarked against the 35th percentile of those registered with the Residential Tenancies Board. The review’s methodology was conducted in the same manner for all counties, is evidenced based and reflects the pressures on rental properties in each location.

A weighted average increase of some 30% has been applied across both the rent limits previously in place in the Fingal and Non-Fingal areas of Dublin. The review showed that there remained a price differential between Fingal and Non-Fingal Dublin areas though both experienced a uniform increase in overall rental pricing.

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. Rents in county Offaly were benchmarked against those in the Tullamore and Edenderry areas.

The Deputies will be aware that the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is being rolled out and is operational in county Offaly. This support will be available in Kerry by year end and in the Fingal area during 2017.

In recognition of the ongoing difficulties in the rental market, my Department continues to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach where rents may exceed the maximum limits. This ensures that people at risk of homelessness through the loss of their tenancy continue to be supported under the rent supplement scheme.