Housing Assistance Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2016

Tuesday, 27 September 2016

Ceisteanna (320)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

320. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it is taking up to 12 weeks to process application forms submitted to the local authorities for social housing support; if he will provide additional resources to local authorities to deal with social housing support claims in an expeditious manner, especially in view of the hardship this is causing persons who urgently require assistance under the housing assistance payment and rent supplement schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26514/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

The processing of applications for social housing support is a matter for individual housing authorities and is carried out in accordance with the timescales and rules set down in current housing legislation.

Regulation 12 of the Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribes the timescales for the processing of applications by housing authorities and provides that, subject to conditions, a housing authority shall deal with an application within a period of 12 weeks. Different timescales may apply where the housing authority requires additional information from the applicant within the relevant period, as defined in the Regulations, thus leading to possible extensions to the 12 week deadline in terms of completing the application process.

Any issues that may arise in relation to the current timescales for the processing of applications for social housing support across housing authorities will be considered by my Department in the context of the ongoing review of social housing assessment procedures currently being undertaken as part of the broader social housing reform agenda.