Vol. 508 No. 1
584 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the way in which the Government's decision to accept in principle a proposal to transfer responsibility for the operation of the health boards' supplementary welfare allowance scheme for rent assistance to local authorities will be implemented; the date when this changeover will occur; the discussions, if any, held to date with other Departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18547/99]
As indicated in the statement which I issued on 9 August 1999, when publishing the report of the interdepartmental committee on administration of rent and mortgage assistance, a planning group involving the Departments concerned is being established to draw up details of new rent assistance arrangements, and to address the various issues arising in their implementation. I expect the planning group to report within six months of its establishment. A minimum two-year timeframe is envisaged for introducing new arrangements following definitive Government decisions in the light of the planning group's report.
