Rent supplements are provided through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. My Department is in regular contact with the community welfare staff of the executive regarding the various elements of the scheme. In the course of these ongoing contacts, the upper limitation on rent levels supported under the rent supplement scheme — as prescribed in SI No. 727 of 2003 — has not emerged as having any detrimental impact on the ability of eligible tenants generally to secure suitable rented accommodation to meet their needs.
My Department is reviewing the current levels of rent limits in order in determine what limits should apply from July 2005 when the current statutory limits expire. The review is taking account of prevailing rent levels in the private rental sector generally, based on indices from the Central Statistics Office, together with detailed input and guidance from the Health Service Executive on the market situation according to patterns of rent supplement applications within each of its operational areas. This will ensure that the new rent limits reflect realistic market conditions throughout the country, to continue to enable eligible tenants to secure and retain suitable rented accommodation to meet their needs.