Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 October 2014
119. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the measures her Department are engaged upon to reduce the crisis in obtaining suitable accommodation caused by the reductions in supplementary welfare rent allowance payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39793/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are approximately 73,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. There have been no reductions in rent supplement, administered under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, as part of Budget 2015. I am acutely aware of the difficulties people are experiencing in maintaining affordable rented accommodation, including those in receipt of rent supplement, in the current market. Raising rent limits may not be the solution to the problem as it is likely to add to further rental inflation and impact, not alone on rent supplement recipients, but also on many lower income workers, their families and students. I plan to keep the matter under close review.
I can assure the Deputy that officers administering rent supplement throughout the country have considerable experience in dealing with customers and make every effort to ensure that their accommodation needs are met including through the use of statutory discretionary powers. A notice reminding staff of this power was circulated earlier this year.
In view of the particular supply difficulties in Dublin, the Department agreed a tenancy sustainment protocol with the Dublin local authorities and voluntary organisations so that families at risk of losing their accommodation can have appropriate interventions made on their behalf. Since its launch in mid-June 2014, almost 140 families have had their rent supplement claims revised by the Department. I will continue to review the use of the protocol towards the end of the year and into 2015.
Increasing housing supply and the reactivation of the construction activity is a key issue for Government and is critical to restoring stability to the rental market. The Government has recently launched its Construction Strategy 2020.
As part of Budget 2015, Government has announced significant capital investment of over €2.2 billion for social housing for the next three years. In 2015, over €800 million will be invested in a range of housing programmes which represents the first major investment in housing since 2009. An additional €10.5 million will also be provided for accommodation and related services for homeless persons, increasing the annual expenditure for tackling homelessness to €55.5 million next year.
