Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013
650. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will detail all addresses and estates in a county (details supplied) that are not permitted to be in receipt of rent allowance/supplement; the rationale for each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38047/13]
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. There are approximately 82,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €403 million for the scheme in 2013.
Rent supplement is subject to a limit on the amount of rent that an applicant may incur. Limits are set at levels that enable eligible households to secure and retain suitable accommodation, having regard to the market conditions. There is no limit or restriction on the proportion or number of people that may receive rent supplement in an area. Section 25 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 provides that payment of rent supplement can be refused in respect of accommodation which is situated in an area notified to me as the Minister for Social Protection by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, as being an area of regeneration. There are no such areas in County Wicklow.
