Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2021
331. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 436 of 8 September 2020, if the funding allocated to an organisation (details supplied) is Housing Assistance Payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62632/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer to the reply to Question No. 436 of 8 September 2020 regarding the funding provided by my Department to the Sue Ryder Foundation.
The funding details in the previous reply related to funding provided to the approved housing body (AHB) through individual local authorities. Funding is provided by my Department directly to local authorities, who in turn, advance the funding to AHBs, as appropriate. The funding detailed did not include any funding under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
In respect of the provision of HAP funding, Limerick City and County Council provides a HAP transactional shared service on behalf of all local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. Accordingly, my Department does not recoup individual local authorities in respect of HAP rental payments in their administrative areas but, rather, recoups all landlord costs via the HAP SSC. An analysis of payments made through the SSC has been undertaken and I can confirm that the Sue Ryder Foundation received funding of €26,077 in respect of two HAP tenancies from 2018 to date.
