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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1991

Vol. 409 No. 4

Written Answers. - Rent Allowances.

Eric J. Byrne

Question:

38 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to the ongoing demands for rent increases being sought from mainly elderly residents of formerly rent controlled dwellings; the amount which is being spent each year in rent allowances; if he will outline the three main beneficiaries in the Dublin area of these allowances; and the amount which these landlords received for each of the last three years.

The rent allowance scheme to which the Deputy refers was introduced in July 1982 to provide assistance to tenants who would otherwise experience hardship as a result of the ending of rent control in that year. Rent allowance is payable, subject to a means test, to a person who is entitled to retain possession as a tenant of a dwelling which had been subject to rent control prior to 26 July 1982. Certain conditions relating to the terms of tenancy have also to be satisfied.

A rent tribunal, established in 1983, has power to fix the level of rent and other terms of tenancy in respect of dwellings which had formerly been the subject of rent control. Landlords are entitled to apply to the rent tribunal for a review of rent every five years. The increases in rent to which the Deputy refers arise in the context of such reviews. Where an increase in rent is approved by the tribunal, those tenants who are affected are entitled to claim an increase in the amount of rent allowance payable. There are 1,042 rent allowance claims in payment at present, 197 of which have been affected by rent reviews to date. The average weekly payment to recipients of the rent allowance is £15.43.

The details of expenditure on rent allowance, as requested by the Deputy are as follows: £952,654.54 in 1988; £921,951.25 in 1989, and £909,677.29 in 1990.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to landlords is not available. Payment is made directly to those persons who have satisfied the qualifying conditions and no data is held in respect of landlords.
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