Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 April 2016
734. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if a person who is in receipt of rent supplement can transfer to the housing assistance payment scheme in the same property, particularly if this will satisfy a landlord and prevent eviction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5881/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is being introduced incrementally on a pilot basis to local authority areas. Since HAP commenced in September 2014, some 8,000 households have been supported by the scheme and HAP is now available to all qualified households in 19 local authority areas.
HAP provides for the transfer of responsibility for long-term recipients of rent supplement who have a recognised housing need from the Department of Social Protection to the local authority sector, thus bringing all long-term social housing supports provided by the State together under the local authority system. Upon its introduction in a local authority area, HAP will replace rent supplement for those with a long-term housing need and who qualify for social housing support; rent supplement will no longer be an option for applicants in such cases. Local authorities are taking an incremental approach to the transfer of recipients from rent supplement to HAP in their own areas. This involves close co-operation with local Department of Social Protection offices and individual tenants. An existing rent supplement recipient who has been determined as eligible for the HAP scheme may transfer to HAP and remain in their current accommodation where the landlord is in agreement, and subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme being met. Since commencement of the scheme, 2,895 households have transferred to HAP from the Rent Supplement scheme.
Under the HAP scheme, the tenancy agreement is between the landlord and the tenant, not the local authority. The tenancy is covered by the terms of the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended).
