asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the extremely high rent increases imposed recently on tenants of Dungarvan Urban Council and due to be imposed shortly on tenants of Waterford County Council; and if he will have the matter examined in the light of a recent circular from his Department to ensure that no increase will be in excess of £2.50 a week.
Written Answers. - Waterford Rent Increases.
264.
It is a matter for each local authority to implement the terms of the 1982 national differential rents scheme in accordance with the guidelines contained in circular letter H.R. 8/81 issued by my Department on 16 October 1981.
The principles underlying the scheme is that tenants of local authority dwellings, should pay a reasonable contribution towards the cost of their housing in accordance with their ability to pay. The maximum rent determined under the scheme, based on the up-dated cost of the dwelling, is the most a tenant has to pay. Tenants who paid maximum rents under the 1980 scheme will, under the new scheme, have their rents increased by, at most, £2.50 per week, but only if their incomes warrant an increase of that amount. On the other hand, tenants who were not previously paying maximum rents may, if their current incomes and family circumstances, including new subsidiary earners, warrant it, be required to pay increases greater than £2.50 per week.