Rent Supplement Scheme Eligibility

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Ceisteanna (819)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

819. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 38, 46, 47, 49 and 60 of 17 July 2012 regarding the rent supplement scheme and in particular the following paragraph: "while rent supplement is not generally paid where the rent charged for the accommodation is above the relevant maximum limit, Departmental officials have flexibility around making payments above these limits where there are special housing needs related to exceptional circumstances which may include a person with a disability in specially adapted accommodation"; the number of person that have been exempted from the new rental caps as a result of this flexibility. [38704/12]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Social Protection

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide 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. 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 over 90,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided €436million for 2012.

Statistics are not available on the number of rent supplement claims in payment in respect of tenancies which are in excess of the prescribed limits on an exceptional basis.

Question No. 820 withdrawn.