Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1099. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if an instruction can be given by her Department to a recipient of rent supplement to apply for the housing assistance payment; and the circumstances under which such an instruction would be issued. [39220/21]
View answerRent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme supporting 17,700 active recipients at the end of June 2021.
The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment or income, can continue to meet their rental commitments.
Where rent supplement has been paid for a continuous period of 18 months or more, a designated person can request a rent supplement recipient to apply for social housing with their local authority. Where a person refuses to engage in resolving their long term housing difficulties, rent supplement can be discontinued.
Where a person is not eligible for the rent supplement scheme, they are referred to their local housing authority to have their housing needs assessed and, if successful, will be placed on the housing list.
Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) which is administered by local authorities, continues to provide long term housing to those who have verifiable long term housing needs. Policy relating to the qualifying conditions for access to HAP is a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
