Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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116. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the supports that are in place for older working people who do not own their own home, are above social housing assistance limits but will be unable to afford private renting once they retire; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33032/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The main supports available to those in the private rented sector with an ongoing long-term accommodation need are the Housing Assistance Payment, which supports more than 58,000 active tenancies and the Rental Accommodation Scheme which supports more than 16,500 tenancies. The Housing Assistance Payment and Rental Accommodation Scheme are administered by Local Authorities under the aegis of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Separately, my department administers the Rent Supplement Scheme which continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation. There are 8,861 active recipients being supported at the end of May 2023.

Rent Supplement 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 those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment or income, can continue to meet their rental commitments.

Housing policy and the provision of supports to those in the private rented sector is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Under the means tested supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my Department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or from other personal and household resources. This is an overarching term used to refer to exceptional and urgent needs payments, and certain supplements.

Any person who considers that they may have an entitlement to an Additional Needs Payment is encouraged to contact their local community welfare service. There is a National Community Welfare Contact Centre in place - 0818-607080 - which will direct callers to the appropriate office. In addition, applications can be made online via www.mywelfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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117. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when the maximum rent limits under the rent supplement scheme were last updated; the plans, if any, she has to increase these rent limits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32912/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The last review of the rent limits was completed by my department in 2016. My Department led the review because of its provision of rent supplement payments. However, since that time the number of people availing of Rent Supplement has reduced significantly. The Housing Accommodation Payment scheme and the Rental Accommodation scheme, administered by the local authorities, are now by far the largest schemes providing rental supports. Combined they now support over 74,000 tenancies compared to about 8,800 tenancies being supported through Rent Supplement.

Accordingly, the issue of a review in the rent limits used across all three schemes is a matter for the Minister for Local Government and Heritage.

Rent limits are not absolute. Insofar as Rent Supplement is concerned the Department operates a flexible policy on a case-by-case basis that allows for higher rent supplement payments in certain circumstances. Special arrangements are also in place under the Interim Tenancy Sustainment Protocol and the National Tenancy Sustainment Framework to prevent customers entering homelessness where it was difficult to maintain and/or source available rental properties. In addition, the Department, in conjunction with Threshold, operates a special protocol in the Dublin, Cork, Kildare, Galway, Meath and Wicklow areas where supply issues are particularly acute. Threshold advise, advocate and intervene on behalf of individuals or families in receipt of rent supplement who are in danger of losing their tenancies.

In addition, Additional Needs Payment are also available to assist those who have essential expenses, such as rent deposits, rent in advance and household bills, that they cannot pay from their weekly income.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.