238 Deputy Seán Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the amount of money paid out in rent allowance for the years 2008 and 2009, on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24282/10]

248 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the rent supplement per year since 2007; the cost per annum for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24121/10]

249 Deputy Olwyn Enright asked the Minister for Social Protection the percentage and number of rent supplement claimants in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment per year since 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24122/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 248 and 249 together.

Expenditure on rent supplement is not available on a county basis. The information in relation to expenditure and recipients from 2007 is shown in the following tabular statement.

(1) Expenditure is at end April 2010 and recipients is at 28th May 2010.

239 Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Social Protection if he has any plans to attach to the payment of rent supplement a condition that the physical condition of the property in question be maintained to a reasonable standard and that the tenants would not engage in any activity which damages the residential amenity of the neighbours in the area. [24405/10]

The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation, whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from another source.

If issues arise in relation to good estate management and anti-social behaviour there are a number of avenues open to landlords, including the mediation service for landlords and tenants operated by the Private Residential Tenancies Board and/or recourse to the Garda Síochána and/or the Courts in relation to the enforcement of the law in dealing with anti-social behaviour.

240 Deputy Michael D’Arcy asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for the refusal of rent allowance to persons (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24413/10]

Due to staff action currently being taken in the HSE, I regret that I am unable to provide the information sought by the Deputy.