Vol. 567 No. 3
204 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will request health boards, when enforcing supplementary welfare legislation in relation to rent supplement, to accept a copy of the tenant's lease as it intrudes into the privacy of tenants if they are required to ask landlords to confirm details which are, in any event, already available (details supplied). [14081/03]
The administration of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme is the responsibility of each health board. In relation to rent supplements, in addition to the completion of the appropriate application forms other documents such as rent books-receipts or a copy of the lease agreement may be requested by the health board in order to determine that a bona fide tenancy exists in respect of the accommodation for which the rent supplement is sought. It may also be appropriate to obtain confirmation from landlords of details supplied by claimants. It is a matter for the health board to decide on the level of verification it requires for this purpose.
I am satisfied that the process currently used by the health boards to verify tenancies for the purpose of rent supplement is reasonable.
