Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 October 2007
323 Deputy Brian Hayes asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of notifications that have been received from local authorities of substandard accommodation in the private rental sector; the split of same by local authority area; the number received in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22440/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder provisions introduced by Regulations in October 2006 and subsequently in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007, payment of rent supplement may be withheld in respect of rental accommodation where the Health Service Executive has been notified by a housing authority regarding non-compliance with housing standards prescribed in regulations made under Section 18 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) 1992.
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised that it has received 18 notifications of failure to meet housing standards since the new arrangements came into place in October 2006. A breakdown per local authority area is being obtained and I will make this available to the Deputy as soon as the information is received.
Where a notification is received from a housing authority in respect of an existing tenant it is recommended that the Executive would discuss the situation with the tenant and take whatever action it decides is necessary in the best interests of the tenant. The objective is to ensure that substandard accommodation does not come within rent supplementation. Overall, the arrangements are aimed at improving the standards of accommodation which rent supplement tenants occupy and at supporting the local authority in meeting their responsibilities in relation to housing standards.
The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare division of the HSE. The purpose of rent supplement is to provide short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Eligibility is in general confined to those who are in receipt of a social welfare or HSE payment. There are currently just over 58,600 tenants benefiting from assistance under the rental supplement scheme.
