Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 February 2012
130 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of rent supplement recipients in County Donegal; the total number who now face cuts to their payments; and the average level of the proposed cuts for each recipient. [5965/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra131 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of rent supplement recipients in County Mayo; the total number who now face cuts to their payments; and the average level of the proposed cuts for each recipient. [5966/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 131 together.
At end of 2011 there were 2,928 and 2,977 recipients of rent supplement in counties Mayo and Donegal respectively. Rent supplement provides short-term 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. Since 2005, rent supplement expenditure has increased from €369 million to a provisional outturn of €503 million in 2011. The number of persons claiming the allowance increased from almost 60,200 persons in 2005 to over 96,800 at end 2011, a 61% increase.
As the Department currently funds approximately 40% of the private rented sector it is essential that State support for rents are kept under review, reflect current market conditions and do not distort the market in a way that could increase rent prices for others, such as low paid workers and students.
New maximum rent limits came into force on 1 January 2012. These new limits are in line with the most up to date market data available. The emphasis of the rent limit review was to ensure that maximum value for money was achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market for private rented accommodation.
All new rent supplement applications are subject to these limits though no adjustments are required in respect of existing claims which are already within the new prescribed limits. Existing claims will be reassessed using the new limits; most claims are reviewed every six months, or when an existing lease expires.
Where a claim is under review and the rent is above the new maximum limit the customer is being asked to contact the landlord to renegotiate the rent. Where a landlord does not agree to reduce the rent to the new rates departmental officials will discuss the options open to the tenant up to and including seeking alternative accommodation. Departmental guidance to the officers administering rent supplement states that where negotiation with the landlord fails then rent supplement may continue to be paid for a period of up to thirteen weeks at the higher rate. However, once the lease has expired the tenant will be expected to find suitable accommodation at below the new limits in force.
The rent limit review will have no impact on the income of a person in receipt of rent supplement. The impact of the change in the rent limits will be on the amounts received by landlords who rent to rent supplement recipients.
132 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an appeal for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [5970/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that the appeal from the person concerned was referred to an Appeals Officer who proposes to hold an oral hearing in this case on 9 February 2012. The person concerned has been notified of the arrangements for the hearing.
The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.
133 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding rent arrears in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3. [5973/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is in receipt of her full entitlement to rent supplement based on her household circumstances, since 2 August 2010.
