Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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375. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if self-employed individuals are excluded from the rent supplement scheme regardless of whether they meet the requirements of the means test, as outlined by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53819/23]

Heather 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 supporting 8,455 active recipients at the end of October 2023.

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

A person will notqualify for rent supplement if they are in full-time employment for 30 hours or more per week, inclusive of self-employment. Claims from self-employed people are assessed on the individual circumstances of each case. All applicants must satisfy the entire eligibility criteria for entitlement to rent supplement.

Responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those with a long-term housing need rests with Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Under Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), you are allowed to work full-time while still receiving housing support. The engagement of people in employment is one of the key benefits for both individuals and their families under the Housing Assistance Payment.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.