Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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393. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the progress made towards resolving rent arrears issues for tenants for people on fixed incomes, such as those on invalidity pension; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39536/22]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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396. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has engaged with the Department of Social Protection to reform eligibility for supplementary welfare allowance to cover rent arrears; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39539/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 393 and 396 together.

The Department of Social Protection Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme offers a safety net within the overall social welfare system by assisting those whose means are insufficient to meet their own needs and those of their dependents. The main purpose of the scheme is to provide immediate and flexible assistance to those in need who do not qualify for payment under other State schemes. There are several payments within the scheme, including once-off exceptional needs payments which can cover rent arrears.

Decisions regarding management of arrears are a matter for individual local authorities. Local authorities actively engage with tenants to ensure rent arrears do not arise in the first instance, including for those tenants on fixed incomes such as invalidity pension. Where arrears do arise the local authority will work with the tenant to put in place a repayment arrangement to assist the tenant in managing the arrears. This can include advising the tenant of the services offered by MABs. Local authority rent schemes also generally make allowances for specific hardship cases. In such cases, they may accept lesser amounts for a specified period if they consider the amount of rent due would cause undue hardship for the tenant.