Question to the Minister for Social Protection (Ms. Joan Burton, TD)
To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review rent supplement levels as early as possible during 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. – Jerry Buttimer
For WRITTEN ANSWERS on Wednesday, 14 January 2015.
REPLY
There are approximately 71,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €298 million for 2015.
I can assure the Deputies that the Department continues to monitor the maximum rent limits and is aware of the difficulties people are experiencing, including recipients of rent supplement, in maintaining affordable rented accommodation in areas of high demand in the current housing market. I am keeping this matter under close review. However, raising rent limits may not be the solution to the problem 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. 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 Department is taking measures to ensure that the housing needs of rent supplement customers who are in danger of becoming homeless are being addressed by providing for increased flexibility within the administration of the scheme. A notice reminding all staff of their statutory discretionary power to award a supplement for rental purposes for example, when dealing with applicants who are at risk of losing their tenancy was circulated during 2014 and a further instruction recently issued in December 2014 to ensure that there is consistency throughout the country.
The tenancy sustainment protocol with the Dublin local authorities and voluntary organisations is designed to protect families on rent supplement who are at risk of losing their accommodation from becoming homelessness and payment in excess of the rent limits are being made for some 290 families in the Dublin region. The protocol will be shortly extended to Cork city and staff in the Department are engaging with Cork City Council and non-Government organisations in this regard. Staff outside the Dublin region are also increasing rent supplement payments as necessary and are actively engaging with the relevant local authority and various local organisations involved in homelessness.
Tabular Statement
Table 1: Rent Supplement End of Year Recipient Numbers & Expenditure: 2010 to 2014
|
Year |
Recipients |
Cost |
|
2010 |
97,260 |
€516,538 |
|
2011 |
96,803 |
€502.747 |
|
2012 |
87,684 |
€422,536 |
|
2013 |
79,788 |
€372,909 |
|
2014 |
71,533 |
€339,367 |
Table 2: Rent Supplement Recipients by County: 2010 to 2014
|
County |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Dublin |
33,818 |
34,423 |
32,584 |
29,541 |
26,453 |
|
Cork |
10,988 |
10,732 |
9,878 |
9,020 |
8,273 |
|
Kildare |
4,409 |
4,447 |
4,338 |
4,135 |
3,698 |
|
Galway |
4,829 |
4,615 |
4,134 |
3,983 |
3,591 |
|
Wexford |
4,055 |
4,102 |
3,700 |
3,179 |
2,700 |
|
Limerick |
3,896 |
3,833 |
3,323 |
2,984 |
2,461 |
|
Louth |
2,563 |
2,734 |
2,549 |
2,422 |
2,211 |
|
Wicklow |
2,613 |
2,719 |
2,495 |
2,381 |
2,130 |
|
Tipperary |
2,680 |
2,609 |
2,199 |
2,094 |
1,961 |
|
Donegal |
3,194 |
2,977 |
2,411 |
2,047 |
1,812 |
|
Meath |
2,552 |
2,723 |
2,143 |
1,941 |
1,726 |
|
Kerry |
2,339 |
2,278 |
2,037 |
1,888 |
1,736 |
|
Mayo |
3,012 |
2,928 |
2,435 |
1,900 |
1,619 |
|
Westmeath |
1,623 |
1,671 |
1,592 |
1,588 |
1,533 |
|
Waterford |
2,332 |
2,098 |
1,773 |
1,556 |
1,443 |
|
Clare |
1,937 |
1,961 |
1,722 |
1,547 |
1,336 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,577 |
1,619 |
1,365 |
1,210 |
1,011 |
|
Carlow |
1,484 |
1,440 |
1,239 |
1,108 |
1,086 |
|
Offaly |
1,273 |
1,349 |
1,240 |
1,124 |
1,041 |
|
Laois |
1,151 |
1,178 |
1,097 |
1,085 |
1,008 |
|
Roscommon |
1,276 |
1,275 |
997 |
802 |
687 |
|
Sligo |
787 |
698 |
591 |
542 |
451 |
|
Cavan |
1,029 |
843 |
519 |
455 |
414 |
|
Monaghan |
598 |
488 |
438 |
395 |
352 |
|
Leitrim |
530 |
440 |
374 |
354 |
324 |
|
Total |
97,260 |
96,803 |
87,684 |
79,788 |
71,533 |