Brian Stanley
Ceist:148. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department works with local authorities in the delivery of services; and if so, the details of same. [42568/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 4 October 2012
Ceisteanna (148, 149)
Brian Stanley
Ceist:149. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Social Protection if her Department engage with local authorities in the provision of services and if so the details of same. [42589/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together.
My Department engages with local authorities and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in ensuring that customer’s accommodation needs are met. Examples where the Department and local authorities work together in this context include:
- Officers administering exceptional needs payments under the supplementary welfare allowance may engage with the local authorities in providing assistance to applicants towards the cost of furnishing accommodation provided by local authorities.
- Departmental officers, in determining eligibility for rent supplement, refer applicants to the local authority for an assessment of eligibility for social housing where appropriate. My Department also engages with local authorities in relation to housing standards in supporting the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government in their aim to promote further improvement in private rented accommodation standards.
- The Department has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events such as the floods experienced in Cork in July last. While the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works has responsibility for capital flood relief activities, the Department’s response to flooding situations, involves departmental officers liaising with the local authority with responsibility for the areas affected and other parties who may offer assistance to those affected. Through this cross-disciplinary approach, appropriate supports are made available to those in need as swiftly as possible.
- The Department, through its work in the Homeless Persons Unit and the Asylum Seekers & New Communities Unit, provides assistance to people and assists in sourcing the most appropriate accommodation available. In addition, prison and hospital in-reach services are provided in exploring accommodation options and, where necessary, liaising with the local authority to identify and source the most appropriate accommodation available for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This ensures that, where possible, people are diverted away from homeless services and towards community-based supports.
- In order to streamline their processes and consequently provide better service to the public while reducing administration costs, staff in external agencies, including local authorities, have been given access to the Department’s customer information systems.
In addition, the Department has had previous engagement with some local authorities regarding the operation of the Household Budgeting Scheme which is operated by An Post on behalf of the Department.
The Government has effectively two initiatives to ensure that persons do not rely on rent supplement for their long term housing needs. The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is in operation since 2004 and the new Housing Policy Initiative, as announced by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the Minister for Housing & Planning on 16th June 2011. Both initiatives provide the local authorities with the specific responsibility for meeting the long term housing needs of people receiving rent supplement.
A multi-agency steering group has been established to develop proposals to give effect to this transfer. The group is chaired by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and consists of representatives from the Departments of Social Protection; Public Expenditure and Reform; Office of the Revenue Commissioners; the County and City Managers Association; and the Housing Agency.
Latest figures from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government indicate that, to date, local authorities had transferred a total of over 41,200 households from rent supplement. The Department continues to work closely with the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government in ensuring that RAS meets its objective of catering for those on long term rent supplement whilst ensuring that rent supplement returns to its original role of a short-term income support.