Vol. 568 No. 6
319 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W will be examined in detail by the SWAHB with a view to awarding a reasonable rent subsidy in order that they can find long-term accommodation. [17209/03]
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on behalf of my Department by the health boards, provides for the payment of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of rent to eligible persons in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation needs.
Rent supplements, which are subject to a means test, are normally calculated to ensure that a person, after the payment of rent, has an income equal to the rate of supplementary welfare allowance appropriate to his or her family circumstances, less a minimum contribution of €12 which recipients are required to pay from their own resources.
The South-Western Area Health Board has advised that the amount of supplement in payment in this case is based on the board's maximum rent level for a single person in shared accommodation of €93 per week. Taking account of the prescribed €12 minimum contribution mentioned above the maximum amount of rent supplement payable in this case is €81 per week.
The health board has provided assistance in respect of rent arrears for the person's previous accommodation and a rent deposit to secure the person's current accommodation. Should the person wish to move to single tenant accommodation she will be required to secure accommodation within the appropriate level set by the board of €107 per week.
