Government urged not to cut rent supplement again

Four organisations working in the housing area have joined forces to lobby against any further cuts in the rent supplement scheme.

Focus Ireland, the Simon Communities of Ireland, the Society of St Vincent de Paul and Threshold have formed a new alliance called MakeRoom, which is publishing a pre-budget submission today.

The alliance is warning that any further cuts in rent supplement could lead to an increase in hardship and homelessness.

The Government has already reduced the supplement and introduced tighter restrictions as part of cutbacks introduced over the past year.

The move has been justified on the basis of falling rents for private dwellings.

However, MakeRoom says there is no information available to suggest that rents are falling at the lower end of the market, where most rent supplement recipients are living.