Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
330. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Social Protection the basis on which her Department is claiming that there are adequate suitable accommodations within the €825 maximum rent limit, for a couple or a one parent family with two children seeking rent supplement in the Dublin 15 area; if she will provide details of any evidence to back up this claim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15076/13]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme 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. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 87,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €403 million for 2013. As the Department funds a significant proportion of private sector rented accommodation it is essential that State supports for rents are kept under review. The purpose of the rent limit review was to ensure availability of accommodation for rent supplement tenancies and not to provide rent supplement tenants with access to all housing in all areas.
The maximum rent limits came into force on 1 January 2012 and are in place until June 2013. These limits were set after an analysis of the most up to date market data available. For all counties, major urban population centres were tested as part of the rents review to ensure that rent supplement applicants can access temporary housing arrangements whilst seeking employment opportunities. The emphasis of the rent limit review was to ensure that maximum value for money for tenants and the taxpayer was achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market. Approximately 56,600 rent supplement claims have been awarded since January 2012, showing that accommodation can be secured within the revised limits.
Analysis of a leading property website shows that for Dublin there are properties available within the maximum rent limits for rent supplement recipients. Over 32,500 persons in receipt of rent supplement reside in Dublin. Based on current analysis, there is accommodation available within the Fingal rent limits for both two and three bedroom properties. The number of rental properties available in Dublin 15 is somewhat lower than the numbers available in the rest of Fingal and therefore impacts on the number of accommodation units available for rent supplement.
Officials in the Department continue to examine the impact of the rent limits on those who claim rent supplement and continue to ensure that accommodation needs for recipients can be met. The next review of rent limits is being undertaken before June 2013 and any changes to the existing limits will be considered as part of this process.
