Vol. 459 No. 6
9 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment in view of the shortage of good quality accommodation, particularly for single people in the private rented sector, the proposals, if any, he will introduce to retain such accommodation for persons genuinely in need of accommodation in order to discourage people from leaving the family home without cause and taking up private rented accommodation nearby. [18594/95]
There is no mechanism available to me, nor would it be desirable or practicable to introduce a mechanism, to restrict access to accommodation in the private rented sector to any particular categories of housing need to the exclusion of others. I am, however, aware of the Deputy's concern that aspects of the social welfare code may encourage persons to leave the family home and move to private rented accommodation, thereby putting additional pressure on the supply of accommodation available. These concerns have been brought to the attention of the Department of Social Welfare by my Department.
Does the Minister have statistics on the number of single people under 21 or 25 years in receipt of State help in the form of a rent supplement or tax relief and who live adjacent to the town or city in which their parents live? During September or October last year the previous Government set up a group to review the guidelines on rent supplements. Earlier this year the Minister confirmed that this group was still engaged in this work. What submission did the Department make to the group in regard to these young people and is the work of the group nearing completion?
This is a matter for the Department of Social Welfare. There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to transfer responsibility for mortgage and rent supplements to local authorities. The work of the committee, on which the Department is represented, is nearing completion and I hope a report will be submitted shortly. I share the Deputy's concerns about these young people and it is important to ensure that we support families in every way possible. This concern is shared by the Government who has taken practical steps in this area. We must take into account that many young people leave home for valid and practical reasons and that there will always be this kind of mobility. As I do not have direct responsibility for rent supplements I do not have the statistics requested by the Deputy. The issue is important and I will look seriously at the recommendations of the Department of Social Welfare. I would like to proceed with the transfer while ensuring that changes in rent supplementation do not increase artificially the demand for housing.
The Minister has not outlined her Department's submission to this review group. I do not know which Department provides the secretariat to the review group but I had thought the Departments of the Environment and Social Welfare were equally involved on this issue. The Minister of State mentioned the Government's commitment to family values but one would question this in the light of certain unemployed people being denied social welfare entitlements when living in the family home but being eligible for them when they leave home. This is an enticement to leave home. These unemployed people have good accommodation at home and should live there.
Have both Departments an equal say on the review group or is there an ideological viewpoint that 18 and 19 year olds should leave the family nest?
I would not dream of advising 18 year olds or 19 year olds to leave the family nest — I have enough difficulty keeping charge of my own 17 year old and 18 year old at home without advising anybody else. The Deputy is aware that the Department of Social Welfare and not the Department of the Environment is responsible for rent supplementation. The Department of the Environment, however, has a presence on the review group and has a very real interest in this issue. We raised this issue at that committee because of our concern about its implications for housing policy and family structure. At the end of the day, young people may determine for very good and practical reasons to leave home. The Deputy, while making his point on social housing, did not say that young people staying at home can qualify for a payment of £25 a week. This is not the impression he gave. I am not the Minister for Social Welfare and I do not have responsibility for rent supplementation. Quite clearly we have an important input into the work of the committee. That committee is now coming to completion and will report to the Minister for Social Welfare. There is a commitment also in the Government programme which will follow from this committee report and it is logical to proceed with this policy in relation to the work that has already been done by the Department of Social Welfare.
My understanding is that those living at home who are entitled to nothing get nothing but if entitled to benefit will get £25. However, if someone who is entitled to nothing leaves home he is then entitled to £62 and a rent allowance of between £30 and £35. That is a huge inducement. Let me ask again if the Departments of Social Welfare and the Environment are equal partners on this committee? The Minister for Social Welfare is the party leader of the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and she should be able to sort it out with him. When will this committee finalise its work which has been dragging on? Will the Minister of State use her influence with her party leader to have the review group finish its work?
At the risk of repeating myself, the Department of Social Welfare established this committee. Its report is imminent and I certainly look forward to it being finalised. The committee has been sitting for quite some time but it has had to assess a major question. I want to pursue as quickly as possible the transfer of responsibilities to local authorities but it has to be done in a way that is informed. This committee does very valuable work and I am very satisfied with the advice that the work is virtually complete and that the report is imminent.
