Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 April 2013
138. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 646 of 17 April 2013, if she will clarify a person's eligibility for rent allowance in a situation in which has left their home which is jointly owned/rented with their spouse/partner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19345/13]
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 86,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €403 million for 2013. In reply to Parliamentary Question No. 646 of 17 April 2013, I outlined the eligibility criteria for rent supplement. The question referred to the provisions to support women who are leaving the family home due to domestic violence. In such cases the circumstances of the applicant are examined and the officer administering the scheme has discretionary power to expedite the award of a payment where the person’s safety and wellbeing are at risk. If the Deputy has concerns regarding a specific case, he should forward the details to the Department for follow up.
