Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 November 2013
479. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when the housing assistance payment will be introduced and if deduction at source has been agreed with all stakeholders; his plans to defray the additional costs that will be incurred by local authorities who will have to implement same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49431/13]
View answerIn 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). On 18 July 2013, the Government approved the introduction of HAP including the provision of funding to the local authorities to cover the costs of accommodating HAP claimants. It was also agreed that the DSP would provide for the implementation of the mandatory direct deduction of rental contributions from the welfare payments of HAP recipients and local authority tenants. My Department and the DSP continue to work closely on the legal, policy and operational issues involved in developing and introducing HAP.
My Department is also working closely with the County and City Managers Association in overseeing plans for the implementation of HAP, but more specifically at this stage in relation to the test phase, which is planned for 2014 (subject to the enactment of the relevant legislation). It has not yet been finally decided how local authorities will deliver HAP; however, potential costs and efficiencies in respect of identifying the optimal solution for delivery are currently being considered.
