Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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265. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are changes being proposed with respect to the operation of the differential rent scheme; if individual local authorities have the power to make changes to the scheme without a statutory instrument authorising such a change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28136/18]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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266. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of local authorities that have made changes to the operation of their differential rent schemes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28137/18]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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267. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the position regarding the review of local authority social housing differential rents schemes being carried out under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness; if as part of the review he is giving consideration to exercising his powers under section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 to make regulations to ensure that carer’s payments are disregarded for rent assessment purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28143/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 to 267, inclusive, together.

At present the making of rent schemes and the setting of rent levels is a matter for each local authority under the provisions of the Housing Act 1966. The making or amending of such schemes is not a reserved function and does not require the approval of the elected members, however it is subject to the influence of the elected members through the annual estimates process.The Chief Executive of the authority makes the (non-statutory) rent scheme subject to broad principles laid down by my Department in Circular letter HRT 3/2002 dated March 6th 2002.

Considerable work has been carried out by my Department in developing a draft national differential rents framework under section 31 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. Such a framework had as its main aim the facilitation of a significant harmonisation in local authority rents, including a set of standardised income disregards, whilst retaining the general principle of rents related to household income.

The introduction of a rent framework could mean that the amount of rent payable by some households may be subject to change in some cases. This work is now being examined further in the light of the broader commitment given in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, to review the disparate systems of differential rent for social housing in place across local authorities. The overall objective is to ensure that housing supports are fair and sustainable, prioritise those on lowest incomes and avoid creating social welfare traps that may prevent people from either returning to work or to the private housing market.

I expect that the review will be completed in the near future.