Written answers

Tuesday, 14 July 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Photo of Joe O'BrienJoe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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692. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the Covid-19 rent supplement scheme will be extended beyond August 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15493/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 21,200 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 7,150 customers have been provided rent supplement support  and remain in payment;. In addition, there are currently, some 1,200 pending customers awaiting a decision or in the process of providing the necessary documentation to the officer dealing with their claim. 

The Department’s current flexible rent supplement response has been extended to end-August 2020 and remains under review within context of the overall Government response to the Covid-19 emergency.  

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy. 

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