Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2015
16. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she or her Department, in view of the homelessness crisis, have given consideration to the raising of rent supplement levels; her plans for legislation to prevent landlords from being able to refuse to accept rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4967/15]
View answerThere are currently approximately 71,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015. I am acutely aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation in areas of high demand in the current market, including those in receipt of rent supplement in the Dublin area. The Department is finalising a review of the maximum rent limits and raising rent limits may not be the solution to the problem as it is likely to add to further rental inflation and could impact, not alone on rent supplement recipients, but also on many lower income workers, their families and students. I am keeping the matter under close review. The Department has put measures in place to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers throughout the country who are at risk of homelessness are addressed by providing for increased flexibility within the administration of the scheme. The Interim Tenancy Sustainment Protocol introduced in the Dublin region during 2014, has provided support for over 340 families to date through providing increased rent supplement payments.
The fact that approximately 71,500 people are currently in receipt of rent supplement shows that a significant number of landlords are accommodating applicants of the scheme. The Department is aware that some leading property websites ask potential landlords to indicate whether they will accept rent supplement tenancies. It is the Department’s expressed position that this practice should cease and the matter has been raised with the leading websites. Officials in the Department are also engaging with those in the Department of Justice and Equality in relation to this matter.
It open to any person who has been refused a private tenancy and who feels discriminated against on the basis of his or her gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Travelling community to refer a discrimination complaint to the Equality Tribunal under the Equal Status Acts.
