Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 November 2014
160. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that have been transferred from rent allowance to housing assistance payment in Cork County Council, Waterford City and County Council, South Dublin County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Monaghan County Council and Louth County Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42827/14]
View answerThe purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. There are currently approximately 72,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.
The Department’s strategic policy direction is to transfer responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need to local authorities under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). HAP will provide a more integrated system of housing supports and has been designed to allow any households that find full-time employment to remain in the scheme. Rent supplement will continue to be paid to those already in the private rented sector who have a short-term need of rental support, often as a result of the loss of employment.
HAP was introduced in Cork County Council, Limerick City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council on 15th September, 2014 and in South Dublin County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Monaghan County Council and Louth County Council on 1st October, 2014. Details of the number of persons currently in receipt of HAP, as supplied by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, are provided in the tabular statement.
Department of Social Protection officials are working closely with those in the lead Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to support the implementation of HAP within the selected local authorities.
Tabular Statement: Household in receipt of HAP as at 6 November 2014 - Source: Department of Environment, Community and Local Government
|
Local Authority |
Transferred |
New Claims |
Total |
|
Limerick |
122 |
23 |
145 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
2 |
7 |
9 |
|
Cork County Council |
- |
6 |
6 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
- |
1 |
1 |
|
Louth County Council |
- |
- |
- |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
- |
- |
- |
|
South Dublin County Council |
- |
- |
- |
|
Totals |
124 |
37 |
161 |
