Rent supplement sees huge increase in demand

There has been a massive increase in the demand for the rent supplement scheme, despite the Government's trying to reduce the cost of it.

The Social and Family Affairs Minister says 91,600 people now receive the supplement - a 24% rise since last December.

Opposition parties say the scheme is "dead money" and the Government should be doing more to get people into long-term housing.

Minister Mary Hanafin says the scheme should be for short-term and emergency cases and people should be moved into the local authority rental allowance scheme.

The responsibility for housing rests with housing authorities and rents with the local authorities," she said.