Vol. 541 No. 2
689 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the protection which exists for people who received increases in the budget to ensure that these increases are not eroded by rent increases which may be imposed by local authorities. [21419/01]
The making and amending of rent schemes is the responsibility of local authorities as an integral part of their housing
management functions subject to the following broad principles laid down by my Department. The rent payable should be related to the income of the tenants and a smaller proportion of income should be required from low 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.
My Department will be in touch with local authorities in the near future restating the broad principles on which their rent schemes should be based and emphasising the need to ensure that rent increases do not absorb an excessive amount of any increase in income and, in particular, in social welfare incomes.
