Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1172. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Social Protection if the moneys saved following the transfer of recipients of rent allowance to HAP, leasing arrangements and RAS have then been transferred to the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government; the organisation responsible for the latter payments; and if so, the amount in each of the year since the commencement of the payments. [41244/21]
View answerThis Department prepares estimates for Rent Supplement for the coming year based on emerging trends on recipients for Rent Supplement having regard to anticipated transfers to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) over that year.
Similarly, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage prepares annual expenditure estimates for Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) based on trends and expected demand for the schemes administered by local authorities.
Anticipated changes in numbers and, accordingly, in spending because of transfers from Rent Supplement to HAP and RAS, is already reflected in the estimates of expenditure. As such, there is no transfer of funds between the two departments because of such transfers.
