PRESS RELEASE

01/02/2005

Scrapping rent supplement rule lifts tenant burden - Kelleher

Cork North-Central Fianna Fáil TD Billy Kelleher has said the decision to scrap the rent supplement rule whereby tenants had to pay rent for six months before being eligible for the benefit will come as a huge relief for thousands of tenants in the city.

‘The ridiculous rule on the rent supplement was abolished this week after many months of lobbying and listening to the concerns of local tenants in Cork 's northside. It simply made no sense whatever that tenants would have to pay rent for six months before being eligible for the relief,' said Deputy Kelleher.

He added that six months of paying rent when these people were clearly unable to afford it was both unsustainable and counter-productive.

‘I have raised the issue at ministerial level on several occasions and I am pleased that it has finally been addressed. New guidelines have been given to community welfare officers in the country's health boards which are responsible for making the decisions about the rent supplement.

‘The new assessment criteria are designed to ensure that anyone with a genuine housing need will have that need met. The rent-supplement scheme costs the Government an average of E345 million annually. It is money very well spent. Last year, 57,500 people received the supplement.

‘I am pleased that the rent burden will now be lifted from the shoulders of those who cannot afford to pay without an unnecessary six-month delay,' concluded Deputy Kelleher.