Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 10 Oct 1996

Vol. 469 No. 7

Written Answers. - Rent Allowance Review.

Mary O'Rourke

Ceist:

144 Mrs. O'Rourke asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will request the relevant community welfare officer to urgently review the rent allowance currently being granted to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [18231/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa):

Under the supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) scheme, a weekly supplement may be paid in respect of rent or mortgage interest to people in receipt of social welfare or health board payments. Entitlement to a supplement is determined by the health boards. Supplements are calculated to ensure that the person, after payment of a rent which the health board considers appropriate, having regard to the nature, character and location of the residence, has an income equal to the rate of SWA appropriate to the family circumstances, less £6. This £6 represents the minimum contribution which clients are required to pay from their own resources towards their accommodation costs.

Maximum rent levels are determined by the health boards in the light of local knowledge and taking into account such factors as current accommodation costs in the area. Accommodation costs are based on information on average rents charged in the area received from local auctioneers and letting agents. The maximum rent levels on which rent supplements are based are reviewed on a regular basis to take account of fluctuations in accommodation costs. Since January 1996, health boards are setting maximum rent levels for various classes of people in line with the requirements of Statutory Instrument No. 382 of 1995. For this purpose the health boards must determine the appropriate maximum amount of rent in respect of which a supplement is payable having regard to the family circumstances and the location of the residence.

The health board considers that the person in question is over-accommodated in that she is a lone parent with one child living in a three bedroomed house, where the rent is £80 per week. The Midland Health Board has advised that the maximum amount of rent supplement payable to a lone parent with one child in the Athlone area is £45 per week, and £50 per week to a lone parent with two children.

The health board has advised the person in question that if another person shared the accommodation, the board would be willing to pay another rent supplement to that person for their portion of the rent, provided they satisfy the criteria for entitlement to a rent supplement. The health board has further advised that where a person who is considered to be over-accommodated does not wish to source cheaper accommodation or to share their present accommodation, they are expected to meet the balance of the rent from their own resources.

According to the board, there is accommodation available in the Athlone area within the limits set by the health board.

It is open to the person to appeal this decision to the appeals officer of the health board.