Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2013
571. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he intends to introduce the housing assistance payment; if he will provide greater detail; and if he will distinguish the payment from the current rent supplement. [4070/13]
View answerIn March 2012 the Government approved in principle the transfer of 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]. It is envisaged that, unlike rent supplement, HAP would be paid on the tenants’ behalf directly to the landlord within a stronger regulatory framework, with rental contribution from tenants set by reference to the differential rent for the local authority area.
Subject to the necessary housing and social welfare legislative provisions being in place, including in regard to facilitating deduction of rents at source from welfare payments, it is intended that the scheme will be piloted by a number of housing authorities before being implemented generally in 2014.
