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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Oct 1997

Vol. 481 No. 4

Written Answers. - Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1997.

Ivor Callely

Question:

182 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if he will consider amendments to the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1997, to enable the health boards to refuse or withdraw a rent supplement from a person who may or may not have been evicted or refused local authority accommodation; if his attention has been drawn to concerns in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16401/97]

Ivor Callely

Question:

183 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the issues of concern which have been brought to his attention regarding the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1997; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16402/97]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 182 together.

The Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1997, amended the Social Welfare Acts to provide discretion for health boards to refuse or withdraw rent or mortgage interest supplementation for private housing under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in the case of persons evicted or excluded from, or refused, local authority or voluntary housing on grounds of anti-social behaviour or the interests of good estate management. The measures provided for in the Act, which came into operation on 1 July 1997, were welcomed by a wide range of interests including Members of the Oireachtas, local authorities and representatives of the voluntary housing sector and local communities.

I have no proposals at this stage to amend or extend the provisions of the Act. Any furher legislative provisions relating to changes in entitlement to rent supplements, etc. is a matter primarily for the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs.

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