Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 7 Nov 2000

Vol. 525 No. 2

Written Answers. - Pension Provisions.

Ivan Yates

Question:

728 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will review the current maximum rent allowance that can be paid to pensioners through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in sheltered housing from its present level of £19 per week; and if he will ensure that there is equality in this benefit payable to all social welfare beneficiaries. [25114/00]

Brendan Howlin

Question:

750 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the limitation of £19 per week on rent subsidy payable under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme to tenants of Enniscorthy Community Housing Limited is causing severe hardship to tenants whose only income in non-contributory old age pension of £86 per week and that as a result of this restriction of entitlement some tenants must pay £16 or £36 per week, depending on size of dwelling, from their very limited means; the steps he will take to remove this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24726/00]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 728 and 750 together.

Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme a weekly supplement may be paid in respect of rent to any person in receipt of a social welfare or health board payment whose means are insufficient to meet their needs. Entitlement to a rent supplement is determined by the health boards and supplements are 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 a person is required to pay from his-her own resources towards accommodation costs.

In addition to the minimum contribution, all applicants, including pensioners, are required to contribute any assessable means in excess of the appropriate basic SWA rate towards their rent. Under the terms of the capital assistance scheme, capital grants are made available by the Department of Environment and Local Government, through local authorities, to approved voluntary bodies to provide accommodation for persons accepted as qualified for local authority housing.

The CAS scheme and rent supplementation to its tenants were examined as part of the December 1995 report of the Review Group on the Role of Supplementary Welfare Allowance (SWA) in relation to Housing. It was noted in that report that in addition to the non-repayable capital grants, subsidies were being paid under section 10 of the Housing Act 1988, and SWA rent supplement was paid to the tenants. In the circumstances, it was decided to set a limit on the amount of rent supplement payable where the tenancy is in accommodation provided under the capital assistance scheme. This is set at £21 per week for a couple and £19 in any other case.

Rent supplements in general will be examined under the review of the SWA scheme which is currently being undertaken as part of my Department's series of formal programme evaluations. A working group comprising officials from my Department and other relevant agencies has been established to carry out the review and a report is expected by the end of next year. The level of rent supplementation to tenants of CAS schemes will be examined by the working group. Any proposals for changes in this area would have to be considered in a budgetary context.