Housing Assistance Payments Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 February 2017

Tuesday, 7 February 2017

Questions (293)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

293. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to make it easier to transfer from the RAS to the HAP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6082/17]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Under Part 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, which provides for the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, a household in receipt of another form of social housing support, such as accommodation provided under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), will not generally be eligible for HAP.

The legislation does allow for the provision of HAP where a housing authority is satisfied that the household is unable to continue to live in a dwelling, provided under a different form of Social Housing Support, due to exceptional or emergency circumstances.

My Department continues to monitor the implementation of the HAP scheme and its operation alongside other forms of social housing support.