Vol. 495 No. 1
43 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the date for the publication of a report on the implications of transferring the administration of rent and mortgage interests supplement under the social welfare assistance scheme to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14463/98]
The work of the interdepartmental committee, which is examining this matter, is well advanced but not yet complete. The transfer of the SWA rent and mortgage supplementation scheme to local authorities gives rise to a number of very important issues with wide ranging implications for recipients under the scheme, for local authorities and the other agencies concerned. I envisage that these will require careful consideration by Government and it is not possible, therefore, at this stage to give a date for publication of a report.
Does the Minister of State accept the value of having a central housing support unit based in the local authorities? That certainly was the policy of his predecessor. Does that continue to be Government policy? Will he set a target date for this development to be achieved, if he believes it is important?
This issue is one which has been under discussion among the various interdepartmental interests for quite some time. As I said in the reply, the issues have wide ranging implications.
What is the Minister of State's view?
I am not in a position yet to——
The Minister of State does not have an opinion?
——not so much have an opinion, as to state what the Government's decision will be. It is largely a matter for the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, within whose remit some of these responsibilities come. The operation of the SWA schemes is a matter for his Department. It has major implications with regard to housing. I am anxious that there should be agreement and that whatever new system is put in place will be decided as quickly as possible.
Make a decision. Solve it.
No. I am not going to make a decision here today.
The Minister of State has been in office for 15 months. The previous Government felt there was value in the same housing officer being responsible both for housing subsidies and providing accommodation. Does the present Government have an opinion on that? Will the Minister of State state it in the House?
The previous Government did not make any changes in regard to this matter. If they had, we would not need to consider it now. We will consider it carefully and will make decisions in due course.
For how long will the Minister of State carefully consider it?
On a point of clarification, the previous Government made a decision on that matter.
They did not implement it.
What is being done is the implementation of it. I am asking a policy question. It will take some time to implement because it is complicated. What is the Government's opinion on the value of the principle of doing this?
Will the Government take a decision on this matter within the next six months?
He does not know if he wants it yet.
Has the Minister of State given any thought to removing the obligation of a person to be unemployed in order to get a mortgage or rent subsidy? With rents rising now, it is operating as a disincentive for people to take up employment. It is even forcing some to give up employment.
Is the Minister of State aware of the anomaly whereby in order for a person in rented local authority housing to qualify for a carer's allowance, one fifth of that will be taken back in the rent?
The question tabled by the Deputy related to the transfer or otherwise of the administration of the scheme and which Department it should finally lie with. The specifics of the terms of the operation of the SWA rent subsidy scheme are open to review. I am quite happy to make any contribution to changes that are recommended if they are seen to be necessary and worthwhile in view of changing events and the evolution of time. They are not written in stone and I welcome any representations Deputies may care to make, specifically if they are supported by case histories.
Within the next six months?
It would be in everybody's interest to have this issue resolved. There are different opinions in different Departments, as Deputies will understand, otherwise the matter would have been resolved quite some time ago.
Make a decision. Do not just be a rubber stamp.
There are many pillars who are interested in this, including the trade unions.
Is that affirmed? Within six months?
