Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

75. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his views on the prevalence of persons coming off rent supplement due to becoming homeless; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8454/17]

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 supporting approximately 47,000 tenants for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017. The numbers in receipt of rent supplement are declining for a number of reasons including the continuing improvement in the economy and transfer to social housing options. The most significant policy change is the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), under which responsibility for persons with long term housing needs transfers from my Department to the local authorities. While statistics are not maintained on those leaving rent supplement and entering homeless services, I can assure the deputy every effort is made by my Department so that rent supplement tenants can remain in their homes. In view of the on-going rental market difficulties, my Department implements a targeted case-by-case policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the rent 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, in excess of 11,000 persons at imminent risk of homelessness have been supported through increased rent supplement payments. These measures in tandem with the increased rent limits introduced in July 2016 are supporting rent supplement tenants to minimise the threat of losing their tenancies.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.