Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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304. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Kildare who are in receipt of rent support; the number of those persons that have received an uplift in their rent support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8596/17]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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309. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the housing supports available to persons engaged in seasonal work (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8728/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 and 309 together.

The rent supplement scheme, for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017, plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 47,000 tenants, of which c. 2,500 are in Co. Kildare.

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 Kildare, Dublin, Cork, Meath, Wicklow and Galway City.

Since the introduction of this flexible approach, in excess of 11,100 persons at imminent risk of homelessness have been supported through increased rent supplement payments, of which some 550 households have been supported in Co. Kildare. A county breakdown of the number of uplift payments made under the scheme is provided in the following tabular statement. These measures in tandem with the increased rent limits introduced in July 2016 are supporting rent supplement tenants to remain in their homes.

The Deputies will be aware that the strategic policy direction of the Department is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short-term income support with the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. HAP is currently available in 28 out of 31 local authorities, including Kildare and Kerry with some 900 and 50 HAP tenancies in place respectively. HAP contributes to a more integrated and streamlined system of social housing supports and has been designed, unlike rent supplement, to allow households with a long term housing need that finds full-time employment to remain in the scheme. It is considered that people who may have a long term housing need should engage with the local authority in that regard.

My Department will continue to provide rental support, under the rent supplement scheme, to those with a short term need, generally because of a temporary loss of employment where they satisfy the other conditions of the scheme. People who find themselves temporarily unable to meet their rental costs should contact my Department’s Community Welfare Service who may be able to offer assistance.

I trust this clarifies the matters raised by the Deputies.

Tabular Statement

Increased Rental Payments by County, as of 20th February 2017