I propose to take Question Nos. 94 and 104 together.
In March 2012, the Government approved in principle the transfer of responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with an established housing need from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to local authorities using a new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). My Department and the Department of Social Protection have been working closely on the legal, policy and operational issues involved in this project.
Work has also been ongoing with the County and City Managers Association (CCMA), through the Project Steering Group, in overseeing plans for the implementation of HAP. In June a Project Implementation Team was initiated, which will be responsible for detailed planning and implementation during the testing and roll-out phases. The CCMA has identified Limerick as the lead authority to drive implementation in the local government sector. The other authorities involved in the test phase are:
- South Dublin County Council
- Louth County Council
- Kilkenny County Council
- Waterford City Council
- Cork County Council
- Monaghan County Council.
A detailed business process design for HAP is currently under way which involves input from all the relevant key stakeholders. Following the completion of the business process design the implementation team will, in conjunction with my Department, develop a plan for the test phase in the above local authorities. It is intended that the test phase of HAP would be carried out in early 2014, 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. Government approval in these regards will be sought in the near future. Once the test phase is complete, the scheme will be extended to other local authorities.
In respect of the staff resources, the CCMA, through involvement in both the Project Steering Group and the Project Implementation Team, is providing ongoing advice in relation to the resources that will be required by local authorities to implement HAP. This input will continue as the detail of the scheme is developed further this year.