Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2011
149 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be awarded rent by the Health Service Executive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20415/11]
View answerThe purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Under the legislative provisions governing rent supplement, the Department's relationship is with the tenant; the tenant makes the application for rent supplement and payment is made to the tenant. Rent supplement is specifically for the benefit of tenants to assist them with their accommodation needs. There is no direct relationship between the landlord and the Department in the administration of the scheme.
It is open to the landlord to bring to the attention of the HSE any instance where a tenant is receiving Rent Supplement but is not paying their rent. Where a Community Welfare Officer becomes aware that a person receiving Rent Supplement is not using that supplement to meet housing costs, payment of the supplement is suspended and the matter investigated. Any overpayment of Rent Supplement incurred in circumstances of this kind may be recoverable from the tenant.
Where a landlord has a grievance in relation to the non payment of rent by a tenant, s/he may apply to the Private Residential Tenancies Board to have the dispute resolved through the board's dispute resolution process. The tenant of the landlord concerned may contact the Community Welfare Services if he wishes to pursue an application for rent supplement.
150 Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Social Protection if and when a back to education allowance will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20665/11]
View answerAccording to the records of the Department no application for a back to education allowance has been received from the person concerned.
