Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Nov 1999

Vol. 510 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Benefits.

Róisín Shortall

Question:

318 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that arrangements for the payment of rent supplement, where the supplement is withdrawn pound for pound when the recipient enters employment, is acting as a disincentive for some persons to take up employment; if he will consider a tapering off arrangement similar to other in-work benefits for recipients of rent supplement for a set period of time after the recipient has secured employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22147/99]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Arrangements have been in place for some years now to enable rent supplement recipients to retain their rent supplement on taking up employment, subject to certain conditions. Any person who avails of my Department's back to work allowance scheme, job assist or other employment support schemes can retain their rent supplement for three years, subject to a maximum payment of £250 per month, provided their household income does not exceed £250 per week.

Nevertheless, my Department is aware that the withdrawal of rent supplements paid under the supplementary welfare allowance – SWA – scheme can act as a disincentive to those seeking to take up employment in some cases. This is particularly so in the case of people with dependants and people taking up part time employment.

In line with a commitment which the Government made in "Partnership 2000" a process of consultation has commenced to examine a tapering arrangement for SWA housing supplements, in consultation with the social partners. The further development of the SWA rent and mortgage interest supplement scheme to address these concerns will be considered in a budgetary context, taking into account the discussions with the social partners.

Seán Haughey

Question:

319 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason supplementary welfare rent allowances are paid to claimants renting accommodation which is not registered under the Housing (Registration of Rented Houses) Regulations, 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22217/99]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

Responsibility for the registration of landlords with local authorities is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment and Local Government. From 1 May 1996 regulations oblige the local authorities to compile a register of landlords in their respective areas. However, I understand that only a minority of landlords are registered.

The supplementary welfare allowance – SWA – scheme provides for a weekly or monthly supplement to be paid in respect of rent to any person in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. At any given time, there are some 41,000 tenants in receipt of a rent supplement. Under the legislation governing SWA, the health boards are not required to ensure compliance with registration requirements before awarding a rent supplement. It would be invidious to discriminate against the tenant or to confine or restrict their freedom of choice regarding the accommodation or where they choose to reside on the basis of the failure of a third party – the landlord – to comply with his or her obligations.

The report of an interdepartmental committee set up to consider the implications of transferring the administration of SWA rent supplements to the local authorities was published in August 1999. That report points out that restricting rent supplements to accommodation that is registered would impact adversely on the availability of accommodation for rent supplement claimants.

It has been recommended and agreed however, that the restriction of rent supplements to accommodation that is registered and complies fully with regulatory standards should be set as a policy objective to be achieved as soon as is practicable.

Consideration will be given to incorporating this feature in the new scheme of rent assistance which will be operated by the local authorities, as announced by the Government last August.