Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 July 2018
342. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the supports and services in place for persons in the Dublin City Council area who move from the rent supplement payment to the housing assistance payment when they take up full-time work after a period of unemployment and retraining; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29487/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to Housing suports, any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for housing support through the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. Once a household has been deemed eligible for social housing support, it is a matter for the local authority to examine the suite of social housing supports available, including the HAP scheme, to determine the most appropriate form of social housing support for that household in the administrative area of that local authority. Administration of the scheme is a matter for the relevant Local Authority.
HAP provides fast, flexible housing support to households in an area of their choice. Individuals with a housing need, who in the past were reluctant to avail of full time work as they would lose their Rent Supplement (RS) support, can now move to HAP and avail of full-time work and retain their housing support, with an adjustment in their differential rent.
HAP will replace RS for those with a long term housing need, who qualify for social housing support. However, RS will remain available through the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP) to households as a short-term income support. The strategic aim is to complete the transfers from long term rent supplement to HAP by 2020, as outlined in the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
I continue to keep the operation of HAP under review but I am currently satisfied with how the scheme is operating and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting current housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme set out in Rebuilding Ireland.
