Conor Lenihan
Question:97 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the total annual cost of the rent subsidy scheme for 2000; and his views about the way in which this scheme operates. [15667/00]
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Payments.
Conor Lenihan
Question:98 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the widespread unease in certain parts of Dublin caused by a heavy concentration of rented dwellings funded by the rent subsidy scheme; and the plans if any he has to reduce such concentration in individual streets or estates. [15668/00]
Conor Lenihan
Question:99 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will seek a statistical breakdown from the Eastern Regional Health Board area giving the numbers and percentages of houses where rent subsidy is being paid and match these figures to the Dublin postal districts. [15669/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 to 99, inclusive, together.
The supplementary welfare allowance 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. Some £113 million has been provided in the Estimates for expenditure on rent supplement in 2000. Expenditure in 1999 was £101 million.
Entitlement to a rent supplement is determined by the health board. The amount paid is normally calculated to ensure that the person, after payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of SWA appropriate to the family circumstances, less £6. This £6 represents the minimum contribution which clients are required to pay from their own resources.
Accommodation at affordable rents is not available in all parts of the city. For example, a significant proportion of private rented accommodation is concentrated in areas where the houses are of sufficient size to accommodate multiple dwellings. It follows that people in low paid employment and others with limited means who require rented accommodation tend to find affordable accommodation only in certain parts of the city. Consequently a high proportion of claims for rent supplement arise in these parts of the city.
In assessing claims for rent supplement, health boards do not discriminate against tenants on the basis of where they live. If a person meets the income and other criteria for receipt of rent supplement, then payment is made. It would not be reasonable to refuse payment on the basis of where the person lives or to require them to move to another location before payment is made.
As the Deputy will be aware, the report of an interdepartmental committee on housing was published last year and the Government has decided in principle to implement its main recommendations. A new rent assistance scheme will be put in place, operated by the local authorities, to serve people who have long-term housing needs, including those who currently rely on SWA rent supplements on a long-term basis. Income support elements of the SWA scheme, including assistance with rent costs on a short-term basis, will continue to be met through the social welfare system.
A planning group under the aegis of the Department of the Environment and Local Government has been established to consult with relevant stakeholders including the local authorities and to prepare detailed proposals for the new scheme. It is expected that this will take about six months and a further two year time frame is envisaged for introducing the new arrangements once the detailed proposals have been agreed.
|
PostalArea |
No. of rent supplements |
Percentagein payments% |
|
Co. Dublin |
1,552 |
9.25 |
|
Dublin 1 |
2,125 |
12.67 |
|
Dublin 2 |
348 |
2.1 |
|
Dublin 3 |
1,061 |
6.3 |
|
Dublin 4 |
550 |
3.3 |
|
Dublin 5 |
222 |
1.3 |
|
Dublin 6 |
2,265 |
13.5 |
|
Dublin 7 |
2,178 |
12.98 |
|
Dublin 8 |
2,353 |
14.0 |
|
Dublin 9 |
575 |
3.4 |
|
Dublin 10 |
96 |
0.6 |
|
Dublin 11 |
161 |
0.96 |
|
Dublin 12 |
376 |
2.24 |
|
Dublin 13 |
147 |
0.88 |
|
Dublin 14 |
141 |
0.84 |
|
Dublin 15 |
736 |
4.39 |
|
Dublin 16 |
207 |
1.23 |
|
Dublin 17 |
28 |
0.17 |
|
Dublin 18 |
74 |
0.44 |
|
Dublin 20 |
101 |
0.6 |
|
Dublin 22 |
494 |
2.94 |
|
Dublin 24 |
984 |
5.87 |
|
Total |
16,774 |