388. Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if participation in drug treatment programmes will result in rent support reduction. [3487/07]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mr. Brennan): The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive, provides for the payment of a rent supplement to assist eligible people who are unable to provide for their immediate accommodation needs from their own resources and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. Participation on a drug treatment programme does not in itself result in a reduction in support under the rent supplement scheme. However, the amount of rent supplement payable in any individual case is subject to a means test. Payments are normally calculated to ensure that the person, after the payment of rent has an income equal to the SWA basic weekly payment rate, less €13. This €13 represents the minimum contribution which recipients are require d to pay from their own resources.

The regulations governing rent supplement stipulate, that in general, in addition to the minimum contribution, recipients are also required to contribute towards their rent any additional assessable means that they have over and above the appropriate basic supplementary welfare allowance rate. In recent years a number of measures have been introduced in the rent supplement scheme for those wishing to take up either an employment or training opportunity to assist in the transition from welfare to work. These measures aim to be responsive to the needs of those who depend on income supports while providing incentives to assist people to become more financially independent. Where a person has an additional income as a result of participation on a training course or from part-time employment the means test for the rent or mortgage interest supplement scheme provides for a weekly “additional income disregard” of up to €60 per week of additional income with half of any additional income between €60 and €90 also disregarded for means assessment purposes. For those participating in approved training courses, any lunch or travel allowances that are paid may also be disregarded. In addition where a person has additional income from part-time employment which has been deemed by the Executive to be of a rehabilitative nature, up to €120 per week of additional income may be disregarded.

Vol. 630 No. 5 Written Answers Tuesday, 6 February 2007