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Housing Assistance Payment Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2019

Tuesday, 5 March 2019

Ceisteanna (586)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

586. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the basis, under Statutory Instrument No. 84 of 2011, of the decision not to grant HAP in a case (details supplied); the elements within the statutory instrument that apply to this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10444/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended. In order to be eligible for HAP support, a household must first qualify for social housing support and be placed on a housing list. 

The Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011 prescribe maximum net income limits for each local authority, in different bands according to the area concerned, with income being defined and assessed according to a standard Household Means Policy. The income bands and the authority area assigned to each band are based on an assessment of the income needed to provide for a household's basic needs, plus a comparative analysis of the local rental cost of housing accommodation across the country.

A household may apply for support to one housing authority only (the “housing authority of application”), which may be the authority for the area in which the household normally resides or with which it has a local connection, or where the authority agrees, at its discretion, to assess the household for support.  In determining whether a household has a local connection with its area, a housing authority must have regard to whether a household member:

- lived in the area for a continuous 5 year period at any time in the past,

- is employed in the area or within 15 km of the area,

- is in full-time education, or attending specialist medical care in the area, or

- has a relative (defined in the Regulations) living in the area for 2 years or longer.

As Minister, I am precluded by the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 from intervening in relation to the decisions made by local authorities in the assessment of individual households, the allocation of particular dwellings and the provision of social housing supports.

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