Rent Supplement Scheme Administration

Tuesday, 3 March 2015

Ceisteanna (177)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

177. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the reason the rent supplement payment amounts vary across the country; if she will provide a breakdown of the current maximum payment, by county; her plans to raise the allowance in County Donegal, in order to make it more equitable with other areas in the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9344/15]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection

There are currently approximately 70,700 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015.

The prescribed rent supplement maximum limits were determined following an extensive review of the private rental market on a county basis. As rental markets differ from county to county, this explains the variation in rent limits across the country and the maximum payments made to rent supplement recipients. Details of the maximum rent limits on a county basis from June 2013 to date are provided in the attached tabular statement.

The Department has recently undertaken a review of the maximum rent limits. The overarching concern is that raising rent limits may not be the solution as it is likely to add to further rental inflation and could impact, not alone on rent supplement recipients, but also on many lower income workers, their families and students alike. The raising of rent limits in Donegal has the potential to establish, in particular for families on low wage incomes, inappropriate pricing floors, with the possibility that these families are priced out of affordable accommodation in their area of choice. Analysis shows that there are properties available in the Donegal area within the current maximum rent limits.

In recognition of the current supply constraints in areas of high demand throughout the country, measures have been put in place to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers who are at risk of homelessness are addressed by providing increased flexibility within the administration of the rent supplement scheme. Notices circulated to all Community Welfare Service staff reminding them of their discretionary power to award, on a case by case basis, a supplement for rental purposes in such circumstances in July and December 2014. A National Framework has also been developed to ensure that appropriate supports continue to be provided throughout the country in a consistent manner.

I would advise the Deputy that he should advise any person in receipt of rent supplement who is at risk of losing their tenancy in the Donegal area to contact the Community Welfare Service without delay.

Tabular statement - Maximum Rent limits

County:	Single Shared	Couple Shared	Single	Couple	Couple/One Parent Family - 1 Qualified Child	Couple/One Parent Family - 2 Qualified Children	Couple/One Parent Family - 3 Qualified Children
Dublin - Fingal	300	350	520	700	850	900	950
Dublin - Not Fingal	350	400	520	750	950	975	1,000
Carlow	230	250	375	433	520	560	590
Cavan	160	190	325	350	400	415	433
Clare	190	210	320	350	400	450	500
Cork	250	270	485	575	700	725	750
Donegal	175	200	300	325	350	400	450
Galway	280	300	475	540	700	725	750
Kerry	190	220	365	390	500	520	540
Kildare	250	300	433	500	650	700	750
Kilkenny	200	230	390	430	540	565	590
Laois	200	230	340	350	450	480	520
Leitrim	175	195	300	325	350	375	400
Limerick	200	240	375	400	500	550	600
Longford	160	175	290	300	325	340	350
Louth	215	250	390	400	550	575	600
Mayo	195	215	375	390	433	465	500
Meath	200	260	390	420	550	600	650
Monaghan	180	190	300	350	400	433	450
Offaly	200	220	360	400	450	475	500
Roscommon	200	220	300	325	400	410	425
Sligo	195	220	400	425	520	540	550
Tipperary	195	220	370	400	485	500	525
Waterford	220	240	375	390	475	500	525
Westmeath	190	210	390	400	500	520	530
Wexford	250	270	375	390	500	540	575
Wicklow	240	290	425	450	600	610	625

North Kildare	270	290	500	575	750	800	850
Bray	275	300	520	680	850	925	1,000