Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 February 2015
211. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to set out the amount expended on rent allowance in each of the years from 2008 to 2013, inclusive, for Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and south County Dublin local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4836/15]
View answer212. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she is satisfied that people at risk of homelessness in the greater Dublin area, that is, Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal and south County Dublin, are treated no less favourably on the basis of the local authority they happen to be dealing with; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4837/15]
View answer213. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to outline her views in respect of whether, when providing statistics on a local authority basis, her Department should provide figures separately, and generally, for each of the four Dublin local authority areas, that is, Dublin city, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, Fingal, and south County Dublin, rather than aggregating same, in view of the fact that no other sets of local authority areas are aggregated for statistical purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4838/15]
View answer219. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if the rent supplement payment is permitted if the owner of the property is the son or daughter of the resident and potential recipient of the payment. [4949/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 213, inclusive, and 219 together.
The rent supplement scheme provides 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 71,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. Rent supplement recipients and expenditure each year since 2008 is provided in the attached tabular statement. A county breakdown by recipients is also provided for 2014. The Department does not maintain statistics on rent supplement on a housing authority basis. Statistical reporting on a housing authority basis is a matter for my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Under the legislation governing entitlement to rent supplement, the Department must establish that the applicant is a bona fide tenant. There is no specific restriction on landlords renting to family members provided all of the qualifying criteria for the scheme have been met. In determining whether the applicant is a bona fide tenant the Department will generally require documentary evidence including:
- Details of the lease agreement,
- Proof of ownership of the property,
- Documentation that the tenancy has been registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board,
- Documentation detailing payments made to the landlord.
In view of the current supply difficulties in the private rented sector, the Department has put a number of measures in place to support rent supplement recipients at risk of homelessness through increased flexibility within the administration of the rent supplement scheme. The Interim Tenancy Sustainment Protocol introduced in the Dublin region during 2014, has provided support for some 340 families to date through increased rental payments.
Engagement with the various Dublin housing authorities by individuals at risk of homelessness is also a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Table 1: Rent Supplement End of Year Recipient Numbers & Expenditure: 2008 to 2014
|
Year |
Recipients |
Cost €000 |
|
2008 |
74,038 |
440,548 |
|
2009 |
93,030 |
510,751 |
|
2010 |
97,260 |
516,538 |
|
2011 |
96,803 |
502,747 |
|
2012 |
87,684 |
422,536 |
|
2013 |
79,788 |
372,909 |
|
2014 |
71,533 |
338,135 |
2014 Revised Estimate
Table 2: Rent Supplement by County, December 2014
|
COUNTY |
RECIPIENTS |
|
CARLOW |
1,086 |
|
CAVAN |
414 |
|
CLARE |
1,336 |
|
CORK |
8,273 |
|
DONEGAL |
1,812 |
|
DUBLIN |
26,453 |
|
GALWAY |
3,591 |
|
KERRY |
1,736 |
|
KILDARE |
3,698 |
|
KILKENNY |
1,011 |
|
LAOIS |
1,008 |
|
LEITRIM |
324 |
|
LIMERICK |
2,461 |
|
LONGFORD |
476 |
|
LOUTH |
2,211 |
|
MAYO |
1,619 |
|
MEATH |
1,726 |
|
MONAGHAN |
352 |
|
OFFALY |
1,041 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
687 |
|
SLIGO |
451 |
|
TIPPERARY |
1,961 |
|
WATERFORD |
1,443 |
|
WESTMEATH |
1,533 |
|
WEXFORD |
2,700 |
|
WICKLOW |
2,130 |
|
Total |
71,533 |
