IT, staff issues behind errors

THE Department of Social and Family Affairs failed to deduct tax from nearly 1,000 non-resident landlords receiving rent supplements because of IT and staff problems.

Failures to obtain tax reference numbers from landlords also meant rent records valued at nearly €200,000 could not be matched between the department and Revenue.

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) examined rent supplements paid in 2005 to landlords living outside the State, for tenants unable to meet costs. A total €354 million in rent supplements was paid to landlords. This covered about 43,000 landlords here, over 5,000 agents, as well as nearly 1,000 abroad.