Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 November 2014
144. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide in tabular form the number of local authorities that operate a transfer list for social housing. [44702/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra145. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the steps that have been taken to develop transfer lists in all local authorities prior to the roll out of the housing assistance payment scheme in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44703/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra146. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the regulations he has published detailing the format of placing households moved from rent supplement to the housing assistance payment from the local authority waiting list onto the local authority transfer list; the way priority is maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44704/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 144 to 146, inclusive, together.
Under Section 22 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 all housing authorities are required to make an allocation scheme determining the order of priority to be accorded in the allocation of dwellings to households qualified for social housing support and to households in receipt of such support who have been approved for a transfer to another dwelling provided by a local authority or approved housing body.
Following the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 in July, I have made regulations to provide for the implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment in the local authority areas taking part in the statutory pilot phase of the scheme. The Housing Assistance Payment (Section 50) Regulations 2014 provide for the application of Part 4 of the 2014 Act from 15 September 2014 by Cork County Council, Limerick City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council in respect of all classes of qualified household. The Housing Assistance Payment (Section 50) (No. 2) Regulations 2014 provide for its application in Kilkenny, Louth, Monaghan and South Dublin County Councils in respect of all classes of qualified household from 1 October 2014.
In accordance with Section 4 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, I have directed the seven housing authorities taking part in the first phase of the statutory pilot for implementation of HAP, to ensure that HAP recipients, during this phase, can be afforded access to other forms of social housing support, via existing transfer lists, if that is their choice.
I have also directed that for those HAP recipients who come directly off the waiting list and into HAP, who apply to go on the transfer list immediately, the transfer list should reflect the specific priority that that household had on the main waiting list within the authority area in which they are resident. That is they should retain the time they spent on the waiting list, once on the transfer list, and therefore be placed on the transfer list with no less favourable terms than if they had remained on the waiting list.
My Department is currently undertaking a review of overall allocations policy which will include the development of a standardised transfer policy. I intend to make Regulations and accompanying guidance in the coming months to implement a new allocations policy which shall, inter alia, provide for recipients of the Housing Assistance Payment who opt to go on a transfer list.
