Social Welfare Benefits.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2005

Tuesday, 22 March 2005

Ceisteanna (284, 285)

David Stanton

Ceist:

284 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of housing units for which the supplementary rent allowance was awarded in 2003 and 2004 in each health board area respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8868/05]

David Stanton

Ceist:

285 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the outturn for the supplementary welfare scheme for 2003 and 2004 in each health board area in respect of supplementary rent, supplementary basic and supplementary special needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8869/05]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 285 together.

The details sought by the Deputy are set out in the following tables. It should be noted that rent supplement is normally payable directly to the tenants concerned, not to their landlords. The statistics shown in tables one and two relate to the number of applicants and recipients, and do not necessarily equate to a number of housing units as recipients may move location during the period.

Expenditure on rent supplement in 2004, at nearly €354 million, was some 7% higher than in 2003, notwithstanding the adjustments made to the scheme conditions at the start of last year. By comparison, expenditure on basic supplementary welfare allowances and exceptional needs respectively was lower in the corresponding periods.

TABLE 1

Number of recipients of rent supplement by health board at end 2003 and end 2004 respectively.
Rent Supplement
	2003	2004
ERHA	25,523	25,711
Midland	2,319	2,090
Mid-Western	4,348	4,163
North Eastern	3,374	2,876
North Western	2,738	2,535
South Eastern	6,190	6,018
Southern	8,985	8,539
Western	6,499	5,942
Total	59,976	57,874

TABLE 2

Total number of rent supplements awarded in 2003 and 2004 by health board.
Rent Supplement
	2003	2004
ERHA	21,036	16,611
Midland	2,432	1,841
Mid-Western	4,208	3,466
North Eastern	3,202	2,019
North Western	2,964	2,164
South Eastern	5,866	4,809
Southern	7,900	6,598
Western	6,142	4,330
Total	53,750	41,838

TABLE 3

Gross expenditure on basic SWA, rent supplement and exceptional and urgent needs payments by health board in 2003
	Basic SWA*	Rent Supplement	Exceptional and urgent needs payments
	€000	€000	€000
ERHA	98,738	176,497	24,896
Midland	10,102	11,158	1,652
Mid-Western	13,719	18,767	4,647
North Eastern	17,981	15,962	1,889
North Western	8,189	9,364	2,574
South Eastern	20,637	28,553	6,731
Southern	25,169	41,531	8,304
Western	20,626	29,638	4,736
Total	215,161	331,470	55,429

TABLE 4

Gross expenditure on basic SWA, rent supplement and exceptional and urgent needs payments, 2004 (provisional).
	Basic SWA*	Rent Supplement	Exceptional/ urgent needs payments
	€000	€000	€000
Total	209,211	353,778	51,328

Note: Detailed outturns have not been fully compiled yet in respect of individual boards.

*This is the gross expenditure on supplementary welfare allowance before inter-scheme adjustments and refunds are taken into account.