John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

165. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in each local authority who are in receipt of rent support, in tabular form; the number of those persons in each local authority who have received an uplift in their rent support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4973/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The rent supplement scheme plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 47,100 tenants for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017.

In recognition of the ongoing housing supply difficulties, my Department continues to implement a targeted case-by-case policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the limits. In addition, the Protocol arrangement in place with Threshold is operational in the areas where supply issues are particularly acute covering Dublin, Cork, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow and Galway City. Since the introduction of this flexible approach, almost 11,000 persons at imminent risk of homelessness have been supported through increased rent supplement payments. A county breakdown of rent supplement recipient numbers and the number of uplift payments made under the scheme are provided in the tabular statement; this information is not maintained by local authority area.

In tandem with the increased rental limits introduced in July 2016 and on-going transfers to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, my Department continues to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach where rents may exceed the appropriate maximum limit ensuring where possible that tenants can remain in their homes.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Tabular Statement

Rent Supplement Recipients & Increased Payments by County as at end January 2017