Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
587. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will address social welfare funding concerns regarding the provision of white goods for tenants in properties allocated by an approved housing body (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14065/22]
View answerUnder the Supplementary Welfare Allowance scheme, Community Welfare Officers in my Department can make an Exceptional Needs Payment (ENP) to help meet essential, once-off expenditure which a person could not reasonably be expected to meet out of their weekly income.
The ENP scheme is demand led and payments are made at the discretion of the officers administering the scheme, taking into account the requirements of the legislation and all the relevant circumstances of the case in order to ensure that the payments target those most in need of assistance.
Where a tenant cannot furnish the property from their own resources, they can apply for an ENP to assist with furnishing the property. The level of furnishings and appliances required will depend on an assessment of the size and nature of the property, the expected level of occupancy and items already available to the customer. Every case is based on the individual circumstances and needs of the household.
Consideration is also given to the basis on which the property had been procured by the Voluntary Housing Body and if responsibility for the provision of any household goods rests elsewhere.
ENPs towards household furnishings and goods are not generally considered where the accommodation is neither built nor owned by the Housing Body.
Properties that are leased under the Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme, formerly known as the Social Housing leasing initiative, are subject to the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. The regulations outline the household goods which should be in the property at the time of leasing by the Voluntary Housing Body. The household goods referred to in the regulations include certain appliances commonly known as “white goods”.
Community Welfare Officers in Laois had understood that as the properties were leased by the Voluntary Housing Body and owned by private landlords the units were subject to the housing regulations. It was initially determined the provision of white goods and associated maintenance was therefore the responsibility of the landlord and not the tenant.
However, it has since been clarified that landlords who enter long term leases of more than 10 years are not legally obliged to provide white goods.
My officials in the Community Welfare Service have initiated contact with the Housing Officer following this clarification and will work collaboratively and promptly to ensure any person adversely impacted previously will have their ENP application re-examined.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
