Josepha Madigan
Question:156. Deputy Josepha Madigan asked the Minister for Social Protection the existing and planned rent relief supports available for working families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28849/16]
View answerWednesday, 5 October 2016
Questions (156)
Written answers
Supports in relation to housing are a key priority for this Government, as evidenced by the early implementation of its commitment to introduce increased rent limits under the rent supplement and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) schemes with increased limits introduced from 1 July 2016. The rent supplement scheme is supporting some 50,700 tenants at a cost of €267 million this year.
In recognition of the ongoing difficulties in the rented market, my Department continues to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach in assessing rent supplement where rents may exceed the maximum limits. The Protocol arrangement in place with Threshold continues to operate in the areas where supply issues are particularly acute covering Dublin, Cork, Meath, Kildare, Wicklow and Galway City.
The strategic policy direction of my Department is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short-term income support scheme. To achieve this, the Government has two initiatives to deal with long term reliance on rent supplement. The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) which is in operation since 2004 and the more recent HAP scheme which has been in operation since 2014 and is a key pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020.
Under HAP, responsibility for the provision of rental assistance to those with a long-term housing need transfers to local authorities. HAP will contribute to the provision of a more integrated and streamlined system of social housing supports as it has been designed, unlike rent supplement, to allow any households that find full-time employment to remain in the scheme. Officials in my Department will continue to work with colleagues in the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government and the Local Authorities to support the accelerated roll out of HAP as committed to in the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
Policy responsibility and reporting on HAP and the Affordable Rental Scheme, as outlined in the Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness, is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.