Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has described the partial changes to rent supplement payments announced by Minister Joan Burton, as a late but welcome wake-up call. He said it was a timely reminder that Sinn Féin and housing advocacy groups were correct in their assessment that her previous rent supplement levels were not fit for purpose.

Last month the Tallaght based TD had called on the Minister for Social Protection to revise the rent supplement caps, particularly in the Dublin area. Crowe stated that the scheme needed revising in order to adequately address the needs and high demand of families, who are increasingly dependent on social welfare. He stated that the policies of Minister Burton’s Department were putting people in an extremely precarious and vulnerable situation.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“Only last month I called on Minister Joan Burton to be realistic about the current rent supplement and the levels of demand for private dwellings in Dublin. I said it was clear that they were not fit for purpose.

“The unrealistic rent allowance thresholds that were being imposed by her Department caused a huge level of stress among families dependent on rent allowance, and they were struggling to keep a roof over their heads. The thresholds also encouraged the illegal practice of under-the-counter top-up cash payments to landlords.

“Sinn Féin and many housing advocacy groups have been calling for a review of rent supplements for the Dublin area for a very long time.

“Working politicians and housing advocacy groups know that families were being left high and dry. Many were being forced to pay cash under the table to landlords, as a means to keep a roof over their families.

“The Minister’s announcement today is at least a partial acknowledgement that she has finally woken up to this crisis, and has finally seen sense and increased rent supplement for the Dublin area.

“While today’s increase will bring some relief, it will by no means solve the current crisis facing many families.

“Rent allowance is, and should only be, a short term solution for families. The Government needs to invest in proper social housing to provide people with a stable home and to remove the fear that they may be forced to move out when the landlord sees fit. A large scale construction of social housing is the way forward.

“The average waiting time for a house in the South Dublin County Council area has jumped from five to eight years in the last year.

“We know that rental prices in Dublin are rising and with local authorities not building any new housing the demand is growing.

“I welcome the Minister’s new-found understanding of the effects of her budget cuts, but like others, I believe it just doesn’t go far enough to tackle the rental crisis in this area and the rest of Dublin.”

ENDS