Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 February 2016

Tuesday, 2 February 2016

Questions (122, 123, 129, 130)

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

122. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on the research conducted by the Simon Communities, Locked Out of the Market III: The Gap Between Rent Supplement/HAP [Housing Assistance Payment] Limits and Market Rents, that indicates that 95% of properties advertised for rent are not available at the rent supplement limits. [4167/16]

Ruth Coppinger

Question:

123. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection to increase rent supplement levels, given the research by the Simon Communities showing a 32.3% rise in rents since April 2012, given that rent supplement levels have remained unchanged since June 2013; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4168/16]

Pearse Doherty

Question:

129. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who applied for rent supplement and were refused, by county, over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4248/16]

Pearse Doherty

Question:

130. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons who were refused rent supplement on the grounds that their rent was over the rent supplement levels, by county, in each of the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4249/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

I propose to take Questions Nos. 122, 123, 129 and 130 together.

Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 60,000 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016. Properties are being secured under the scheme with over 20,100 rent supplement tenancies awarded during 2015.

I am fully aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation in areas of high demand, and also of the contents of the recent Simon Community report “Locked out of the Market III – The Gap between Rent Supplement/HAP Limits and Market Rents – A Snapshot Study” which clearly tracks the reduction of supply in the private rented market over the course of their three reports.

A review of the rent limits undertaken by the Department found that the impact of increasing limits at a time of constrained supply will increase costs disproportionately for the Exchequer with little or no new housing available to recipients. Recent analysis shows that increasing the current rent limits by 8% would result in a full year cost in excess of €25 million, with a 35% increase costing approximately €124 million. If examined in the context of those counties with the highest number of rent supplement recipients; increasing rent limits by 8% in counties Dublin, Cork, Kildare and Galway would acquire fewer than 30 houses.

In view of the reduction of supply in the private rented market and increasing rents at this time, the Department has implemented a policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the limits for both existing customers and new applicants to the rent supplement scheme. The circumstances of tenants are considered on a case-by-case basis and rents are being increased above prescribed limits, as appropriate. In addition, the Department, in conjunction with Threshold, operates a special protocol in the Dublin and Cork areas where supply issues are particularly acute, with plans underway to extend this to Galway City.

This flexible approach has assisted over 6,200 rent supplement households nationwide to retain or acquire rented accommodation through increased rent payments. A county breakdown of this information and a county analysis of rent supplement recipients for the years 2011 to date are provided in the attached tabular statements. Statistics are not maintained on the number of rent supplement applications and their outcome. However, I can assure the Deputies that where Departmental staff are notified of a threat of tenancy loss these preventative measures are implemented as appropriate.

Persons in receipt of rent supplement who may be at risk of losing their tenancy as a result of increases in rent are urged to contact their local Community Welfare Service or the Threshold Tenancy Sustainment Service without delay.

I believe that these measures and the reforms to the private rental sector as recently announced by Government will provide increased stability in what has become a highly volatile rental market. I am continuing to keep this matter under close review.

Total Increased Rental Payments by County as at 01/02/2016

County	Awards under National Tenancy Sustainment Framework	Awards under protocol with Threshold	Total no. of increased payments by County
CARLOW	26		26
CAVAN	14		14
CLARE	60		60
CORK	252	71	323
DONEGAL	-		-
DUBLIN	2,435	1,724	4,159
GALWAY	123		123
KERRY	27		27
KILDARE	256		256
KILKENNY	115		115
LAOIS	108		108
LEITRIM	50		50
LIMERICK	7		7
LONGFORD	101		101
LOUTH	88		88
MAYO	3		3
MEATH	267		267
MONAGHAN	1		1
OFFALY	52		52
ROSCOMMON	18		18
SLIGO	-		-
TIPPERARY	165		165
WATERFORD	31		31
WESTMEATH	116		116
WEXFORD	7		7
WICKLOW	109		109
Total	4,431	1,795	6,226

Rent Supplement Recipients by County, 2011 - End January 2016

	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016 End January
Carlow	1,440	1,239	1,108	1,086	962	932
Cavan	843	519	455	414	403	409
Clare	1,961	1,722	1,547	1,336	1,024	992
Cork	10,732	9,878	9,020	8,273	6,822	6,655
Donegal	2,977	2,411	2,047	1,812	1,202	1,097
Dublin	34,423	32,584	29,541	26,453	23,758	23,428
Galway	4,615	4,134	3,983	3,591	3,326	3,252
Kerry	2,278	2,037	1,888	1,736	1,633	1,633
Kildare	4,447	4,338	4,135	3,698	3,396	3,367
Kilkenny	1,619	1,365	1,210	1,011	554	524
Laois	1,178	1,097	1,085	1,008	978	968
Leitrim	440	374	354	324	331	321
Limerick	3,833	3,323	2,984	2,461	1,441	1,420
Longford	623	511	507	476	384	392
Louth	2,734	2,549	2,422	2,211	1,462	1,409
Mayo	2,928	2,435	1,900	1,619	1,528	1,486
Meath	2,723	2,143	1,941	1,726	1,528	1,473
Monaghan	488	438	395	352	269	271
Offaly	1,349	1,240	1,124	1,041	812	782
Roscommon	1,275	997	802	687	611	615
Sligo	698	591	542	451	478	461
Tipperary	2,609	2,199	2,094	1,961	1,674	1,624
Waterford	2,098	1,773	1,556	1,443	958	924
Westmeath	1,671	1,592	1,588	1,533	1,426	1,408
Wexford	4,102	3,700	3,179	2,700	2,296	2,261
Wicklow	2,719	2,495	2,381	2,130	1,991	1,969
Total	96,803	87,684	79,788	71,533	61,247	60,073