Finian McGrath
Ceist:38. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding rent supplement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18917/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 14 May 2015
Ceisteanna (38)
Freagraí scríofa
Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 69,000 people this year at a cost of €298 million.
Rent supplement is not generally payable where a person or their spouse/partner is in full time employment i.e. 30 hours or more per week. A person on rent supplement who is deemed by a local authority to be Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) eligible may engage in full-time employment and retain their entitlement subject to satisfying the means test.
The Department’s strategic policy direction is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short term income support by transferring responsibility for persons with long term housing needs to the local authorities under the new Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Payments under the HAP scheme will be based on the local authority differential rent means test under which the full-time employment restriction does not apply and therefore will remove a key barrier to persons on social welfare in getting back to work. HAP is currently in operation in seven local authority areas in which there are approximately 1,800 HAP tenancies already in place. There are plans to roll out HAP to 12 further local authorities during 2015, commencing in Donegal at the end of May. There is a target to achieve 8,400 HAP cases in 2015 as set out in the ‘Social Housing Strategy 2020: Support, Supply and Reform’.
Officials in the Department continue to work closely with those in the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and housing authorities to ensure the success of the HAP scheme.