Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2012
84. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the future of rent supplement; the timeline for any changes; the legislative changes that are necessary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44398/12]
View answer99. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Social Protection when her Department and the Department of the Environment and Local Government will report on the housing assistance reform, in particular on the introduction of the new housing assistance payment; and if the detail of the report will be made available to Members of the Oireachtas in advance of Budget 2013. [44567/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 99 together.
There are approximately 90,000 persons in receipt of rent supplement for which the Government has provided a sum of €436 million for 2012. The aim of rent supplement is to provide short term income assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer.
In March 2012, the Government approved in principle to transfer responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to persons with a long term housing need from my Department, currently provided through rent supplement, to housing authorities using a new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). A multi-agency steering group has been established to develop proposals to give effect to this transfer. The group is chaired by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and consists of representatives from the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure and Reform; Office of the Revenue Commissioners; the County and City Managers Association, and the Housing Agency. Proposals will be brought to Government before the end of this year including proposed amendments to legislation, if required.
It is planned that pilot testing of HAP arrangements will commence during the second half of 2013 with general roll out and commencement of transfers from January 2014. Policy matters and reporting in relation to the HAP scheme is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
The new arrangements will achieve a key Government commitment of removing barriers to employment and at the same time returning rent supplement to its original purpose of a short-term income support.
