Róisín Shortall
Question:283 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the statutory basis for local authority rent schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14915/01]
Written Answers. - Local Authority Housing.
Section 58 of the Housing Act, 1966, provides the statutory authority for local housing authorities to charge rent for the tenancy or occupation of their dwellings. Since 1986, responsibility for making and amending rent schemes has, in pursuance of Government policy of maximum devolution of functions to local authorities, been devolved to the authorities as an integral part of their functions to manage their housing stock, subject to the following guidelines: the rent payable should be related to the income of the tenants and a smaller proportion of income should be required from lower income households, allowances should be made for dependent children, a contribution towards rent should be required from subsidiary earners and provision should be made to accept a lower rent in exceptional cases, where payment of the normal rent would give rise to hardship.
Local authorities should also ensure that overall rental income reflects adequately, in so far as is practicable to do so, the management and maintenance costs of the dwellings under their control, having regard to appropriate local factors.