Rent Supplement Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 June 2016

Thursday, 23 June 2016

Questions (182)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

182. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection the measures he will put in place, following the recommendations of the report of the Committee on Housing and Homelessness launched on 17 June 2016, in respect of raising the rent supplement limits throughout the counties and specifically in respect of north County Kildare, which is outside the Dublin Region Homeless Executive's area but where rents are in excess of €1,400 per calendar month for a modest family home and where rents for general homes are in excess of €1,600 per calendar month; the innovations being made to assess applications on a case-by-case basis for new tenancies and pre-existing ones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17822/16]

Written answers

Minister for Social Protection

Supports in relation to housing and the provision of financial supports, such as the rent supplement scheme currently supporting some 55,000 recipients at a cost of €267 million in 2016, are a key priority for Government. In advance of the launch of the report of the Housing and Homelessness Committee, my Department has been examining the rent limits in the context of the Government commitment to provide for an increase and it is my intention that revised rent limits will be brought to Government for agreement within the coming weeks.

The strategic policy direction of the Department is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short-term income support scheme. Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those with a long-term housing need transfers to local authorities. HAP is currently operational in 19 local authority areas, including Kildare, with payments being made in respect of over 10,350 tenancies of which over 350 are in place in Kildare. Where HAP is in operation this Department will continue to provide rental support, under the rent supplement scheme, to those with a short term need, generally because of a temporary loss of employment.

At this time of constrained supply, the Department continues to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach where rents exceed limits. This ensures that people at risk of homelessness or loss of their tenancy are supported under the rent supplement scheme where increased rental payments are required. Currently, over 8,600 households in receipt of rent supplement are supported through this approach with some 430 households assisted in Kildare.

The Department, in conjunction with Threshold, operates a protocol in the Dublin and Cork areas where supply issues are particularly acute. Following engagement with the relevant agencies this protocol was recently extended to the commuter counties of Kildare, Meath and Wicklow, and also to Galway City.

Any person experiencing increased rents or facing the threat of the loss of their tenancy under rent supplement are urged to contact the Department’s Community Welfare Service or the Threshold Tenancy Protection service without delay.