Vol. 453 No. 6
109 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the review of State assistance towards housing costs such as the supplementary welfare allowance scheme which is currently under way will be complemented by a review of other State subsidies towards housing costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9773/95]
A housing review group was set up in September 1994 consisting of representatives from the Departments of the Environment, Health and Finance and from local authorities and health boards under the chairmanship of the Department of Social Welfare to review the increasing role of the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in housing provision. This review group was set up at the instigation of my Department because of a concern that the expenditure on housing under the SWA scheme was taking place outside of housing policy. This review will attempt to identify the reasons for the increase in rent and mortgage supplements and to identify the likely trends for the future. It will also consider what is the most cost-effective way of assisting those on social welfare incomes to meet their housing needs. The group is due to make its report in the autumn.
The terms and conditions, including subsidies where applicable, of the social housing schemes administered by the local authorities have recently been revised and updated as detailed in the booklet Social Housing — The Way ahead which was published by the Department of the Environment on 2 May 1995. The Department of the Environment has advised that there are no proposals to review these schemes further or to alter present arrangements in relation to the funding of local authority housing.
