Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 December 2014
601. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government when he envisages the housing assistance payment scheme being extended nationwide; the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47096/14]
View answerThe implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020, which I published on the 26 November last. The HAP scheme will bring all social housing supports provided by the State under the aegis of local authorities. The scheme will remove a barrier to employment by allowing recipients to remain in the scheme if they gain full-time employment. HAP will also improve regulation of the rented accommodation being supported and provide certainty for landlords as regards their rental income.
Further to the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 on 28 July 2014, the first phase of the HAP statutory pilot commenced with effect from 15 September in Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council and Cork County Council. Subsequently, from 1 October, HAP commenced in Louth, Kilkenny, South Dublin and Monaghan County Councils.
I intend to sign the necessary regulations this week to enable Dublin City Council to become part of the statutory HAP pilot, with a specific focus on accommodating homeless households. Dublin City Council will implement the HAP pilot for homeless households in its own area and on behalf of the other Dublin local authorities, South Dublin, Fingal and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Councils.
There are now 382 households in receipt of HAP across the local authority areas taking part in the statutory pilot scheme. Roll out to the remaining local authorities is scheduled to begin on a phased basis in 2015.
