The South Western Area Health Board was contacted regarding this case and has advised that the community welfare officer is awaiting clarification of a lease agreement so as to enable the application for rent supplement to be processed.
The board has advised that only one of the persons referred to by the Deputy has applied for rent supplement. The accommodation in respect of which a rent supplement has been sought is shared with the second person who is in open market full-time employment and, accordingly, is excluded by legislation from receipt of rent supplement.
As soon as the clarification is provided the community welfare officer will be in a position to determine whether or not a rent supplement is payable to the applicant.