Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2012
108. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for the structure within the local authorities which will manage rent supplement; if it will require extra staff and funding for local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54245/12]
View answerIn March 2012 the Government approved in principle a joint proposal by the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Social Protection to transfer responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with an established long-term housing need from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to local (housing) authorities. The new service would be provided using a new Housing Assistance Payment [HAP]. The new assistance payment [HAP] would be paid on the tenants’ behalf directly to the landlord within a stronger regulatory framework. Under HAP the rental contribution from tenants will be set by reference to the differential rent for the area. It is also intended that some form of automated deduction of rental payments from DSP payments would also be available for HAP and other social housing tenancies. The County and City Managers Association (CCMA) is represented on the Steering Group for this project. In that context the CCMA is providing necessary input, as required, into how local authorities will operate and resource HAP.
