Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 May 2012
348 Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection if there are any plans to extend the higher rent supplement limit for north Wicklow to include Kilcoole as rents in this area are the same as Bray, Greystones and Delgany which are currently covered under the higher rent allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24958/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra436 Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 353 of 1 May 2012 and No. 366 of 14 February 2012, if she will confirm if a review of rental markets in Kilcoole and Newtownmountkennedy was conducted; if so, if she will release the full report of this review; if not, will she state the justification for not raising the rent supplement levels in those towns to the level applying in Bray; if she will release the reports of the reviews of the rental markets in Bray, Greystones and Delgany also; and if she will supply in tabular form the rent supplement levels that previously applies and currently applies in each of these towns. [25500/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 436 together.
The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from another source. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 95,000 persons in receipt of rent supplement, with €436m provided in 2012.
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 for tenants and the taxpayer was achieved whilst at the same time ensuring that people on rent supplement are not priced out of the market for private rented accommodation.
The analysis of the rental market for Wicklow carried out by the Department found that rental prices for Bray were having a distorting effect on the prices for Wicklow as a whole. Accordingly Bray was excluded while establishing rent limits for county Wicklow. The rental area considered was extended to include both Greystones and Delgany, areas which were of close proximity to Bray with housing in those areas directly affecting the rental market for Bray.
Both Kilcoole and Newtownmountkennedy were evaluated and have been assigned the new Wicklow rates. It is important to bear in mind that the purpose of the review is to ensure availability of accommodation for rent supplement tenancies and not to provide rent supplement tenants with access to all housing in all areas.
I will be publishing the report which outlines the rationale for establishment of the new rent limits for the Bray, Delgany and Greystones area shortly. All indications to date show that, for each county, the new rent limits are permitting rent supplement tenancies to access suitable housing. The Department will continue to monitor rent levels throughout the country but at this stage there are no plans to revise the existing rent limits.
|
County Wicklow |
Single person in shared accommodation |
Couple in shared accommodation |
Single person |
Couple with no children |
Couple or one-parent family with 1 child |
Couple/ one-parent family with 2 children |
Couple/ one-parent family with 3 children |
|
From 1 January 2012 |
240 |
290 |
440 |
525 |
625 |
670 |
740 |
|
From June 2010 to December 2011 |
315 |
325 |
529 |
710 |
850 |
900 |
910 |
349 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for domiciliary care allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24960/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for domiciliary care allowance (DCA) was received on 23rd November 2011. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child was not medically eligible for DCA. A letter issued on 16th January 2012 refusing the allowance. The person concerned subsequently lodged an appeal against this decision.
As part of the appeal process, the case has been forwarded to another of the Department's Medical Assessors for further consideration, including a review of any new information supplied. Upon receipt of the Medical Assessor's opinion, the case will be further examined and will be forwarded for consideration by the Appeals Office, if necessary.
350 Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will provide an itemised and specific breakdown of the moneys for care allowance as referenced in the private members debate on domiciliary care allowance of last week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24971/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department currently pays domiciliary care allowance (DCA) in respect of some 26,000 children. Spending on the scheme and the associated annual respite care grant (RCG), which is paid automatically to all recipients, amounted to €145 million in 2011.
A table details the expenditure in 2011 and the projected spend in 2012:
|
Year |
DCA |
RCG |
|
2011 |
€99.5m |
€45.5m |
|
2012 (Projected) |
€100.5m |
€46.0m |
