The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is administered by Local Authorities and overall policy responsibility for HAP rests with my colleague the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. Matters relating to the processing times for HAP applications and the payment of arrears are primarily a matter for that Department.
Notwithstanding this, I understand that arrears may be paid in cases where a housing need assessment is complete; the applicant is accepted on the social housing list and a valid HAP application is received by the Local Authority.
The Deputy will be aware that the strategic policy direction of my Department is to return rent supplement, with approximately 31,000 cases in payment, to its original purpose of being a short-term income support with the introduction of the HAP scheme. There are currently 36,500 HAP tenancies in payment, and officials in my Department will continue to support the transfer of cases from rent supplement who have long term social housing needs.
I suggest that the specific matter in relation to lead times in receiving rental payment via HAP is clarified with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government.