Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 December 2014
40. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will determine a formula whereby tenants whose rent has increases substantially over the past 12 months may be offered partial rent support or increased rent support as may be necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47328/14]
View answer56. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if rent allowance will be increased in line with increasing rental prices; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47440/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 56 together.
The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. There are approximately 71,800 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
I am keeping the matter regarding rent limits under consideration and the review being undertaken by the Department will be finalised shortly. The Department is in a position of both significant influence in the private rented market and responsibility. There is a real concern that increased rent limits may add to further rental inflation and impact, not alone on rent supplement recipients, but also on many lower income workers, their families and students.
Central to the current supply issue is that rent supplement policy must provide flexibility. I can assure the Deputies that officers administering rent supplement throughout the country have considerable experience and make every effort to ensure that accommodation needs are met including through the use of their discretionary statutory powers as necessary and, in Dublin, through the Interim Tenancy Sustainment Protocol (ITSP). A notice reminding staff of their statutory discretionary power to award, on a case by case basis, a supplement for rental purposes in exceptional cases, for example, when dealing with applicants who are at risk of losing their tenancy was circulated in July 2014. Further instructions are issuing this week to ensure that the necessary supports continue to be provided and that there is consistency throughout the country.
Rent supplement payments are being made in excess of the maximum limits throughout the county, including over 240 cases under the Interim Tenancy Sustainment Protocol, in order to maintain tenancies. The Department is reviewing the local arrangements in place to strengthen the existing framework.
I strongly advise that where a person in receipt of rent supplement is at risk of losing their tenancy they should make contact with the Tenancy Protection Service provided by Threshold on 1800 454 454 in Dublin or their local Community Welfare Service throughout the country.
