Lone parent with two children entitled to €745 a month, and €446 for single person
THE HSE’s Rental Supplement Scheme has been blamed for the increase in anti-social behaviour in residential areas across Limerick.
Adare Councillor James Collins, has called the authority’s attitude toward the scheme “reckless”, saying that they are completely disinterested in happenings, once tenants are placed in houses.
He, along with other members of the committee, have now called for the eradication of the HSE’s rental scheme.
Members of the county council, the oireachtas, and An Garda Siochana, were in attendance at the meeting of the Joint Policing Committee in County Hall, at which members of the HSE spoke about the provisions of their rental programme.
Commissioning Officer of the health board, Eddie Murphy, told the gathering that those who applied to the HSE for Rent Allowance had their income assessed, and once this was below a certain level, accommodation was provided.
“There are financial limits to the accommodation provided”, said Mr. Murphy. “For example, a couple or lone parent with two children is entitled to €745 a month, while a single person is permitted a maximum of €446 a month”.
However, Mr. Murphy admitted that once accommodation was provided, the HSE have no further involvement with the agreement.
“The HSE has no statutory power relating to the rent allowance. We are merely an agency who set up an agreement between a landlord and tenant. After 18 months, the Local Authority becomes responsible for the situation, under the Local Rental Scheme”.
It was subsequently revealed by Mr Murphy that under the Data Protection Act, no names of landlords where tenants reside under this scheme, could be released. He added that there were misconceptions that anti-social behaviour was emanating from the scheme. He claimed that the Local Authority did not build enough houses, and that the HSE had been forced to pick up the tab with their rental scheme.
Speaking to the Limerick Post, councillor James Collins said: “Its clear that the HSE would prefer if they were not involved. The legislation under the Residential Tenancy Act 2004, directs all problems to the landlord, but the landlords names cannot be revealed.
“If they are registered under the Private Rental Tenancy Board, the names would be accessible; however the HSE claim that landlords are not obliged to register on the PRTB, so there is no one who can be made accountable for the behaviour of the tenants”.
Councillor Collins added that neighbours of the minority of tenants under the scheme, who are trouble making, were afraid to contact Gardaí for fear that they would be targeted.
He suggested that residential associations be set up so that reports could be made to the guards anonymously; however he was informed that this would not be possible as a name would be needed if a case was brought to court.
Councillor Patrick O’Donovan stated that the situation was a “legislative dog’s dinner”, and that those who were involved in destructive behaviour were “dragging down the value” of neighbouring houses.
He added that there was “no mechanism to deal with those who are striking fear into their neighbours, and have no regard for community”.
Councillor Collins informed the Post that the HSE’s “ad-hoc housing policy” should be wound down, and that a joint city and county Limerick policy was to be created as the result of a 22 week study into the housing sector, that would be conducted by officials from both authorities.
“A lot of time and effort will be put into creating a cohesive and integrated strategy on housing needs, to find out what the best mix will be for all involved.
“Limerick city and county local authorities will each deal with their own housing needs separately and under the same policy, and the HSE will not be involved”.
He concluded that despite numerous complaints to councillors regarding anti-social behaviour by those renting under the HSE scheme, not one contract of tenancy had ever been terminated by them.
