Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 January 2014
364. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Social Protection when she envisages the administration of the rent supplement allowance transferring from her Department to local authorities; if she is satisfied that local authorities will have sufficient staff resources to oversee this transfer and administer this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1048/14]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. There are currently approximately 80,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
The Department’s strategic policy direction is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of a short-term income support. To this end, in July 2013, the Government approved the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) under which responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need will transfer from this Department to local authorities.
Officials in the Department are continuing to work with those in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, who are leading the project, in developing the necessary legal, policy and operational requirements to give effect to this transfer. The Department is advised that HAP testing will be carried out in selected local authorities during 2014.
The issue of staffing resources to oversee this transfer and administer HAP in local authorities is a matter for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
