Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1094. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of new rent supplement applications received from 12 March 2020 to the most recent date for which figures are available; the number of new claims awarded from 12 March 2020 to the most recent date for which figures are available; the breakdown of these applications and claims by county; and if the availability of this rent support will be extended until the public health emergency is over. [8752/20]

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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1145. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the rent supplement guidance circular 22/20 will be extended beyond 31 May 2020. [9501/20]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1094 and 1145 together.

Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 20,400 recipients.  

The scheme provides short-term income support, to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.  The scheme ensures that for those who were renting, and due to temporary loss of employment, can continue to meet their rental commitments.

Since the introduction of the Government’s Covid emergency response approximately 6,500 customers have been provided rent supplement support; in addition, there are currently, approximately, 1,900 pending applications awaiting a decision or in process of providing the necessary documentation to the officer dealing with the claim.  I am advised by my Department that statistics in relation to overall approval/refusal rates in relation to the Scheme are not currently available.

The Department’s response to this emergency, ensuring that the inherent flexibility of the rent supplement is available, has been extended to 19 June 2020 and is being reviewed in the context of the Government’s continued response to the Covid emergency.

The cases that are currently in payment and awarded from the 13 March 2020 by county, along with cases currently pending a decision (or documentation still outstanding) are provided in the tabular statement.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Table 1: Rent Supplement Awards Post 13th March & Pending Claims as at 25th May 2020