Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----whereas this scheme will involve the tenant's proportion behind deducted at source and the entire amount due to the landlord being paid to the landlord by the local authority. In that sense I am not so sure about it. We will have to see what happens as it rolls out. As the Deputy knows, it started in one local authority and will roll out in an additional six this year, and gradually extend to the rest of the country. We will have to see whether it improves the attractiveness for landlords on the basis that they know they will get all their money, and when they will get it. That remains to be seen. I do not know the answer to that but I hope it might make it a little more attractive for landlords.

On the specific amendment, accepting this amendment would undermine the entire basis of the decision to transfer responsibility for long-term rent supplement recipients who have an established housing need from the Department of Social Protection to local authorities by providing that the HAP is not to be considered as social housing support. Part 4 of the Bill would effectively be providing for the management of rent supplement by housing authorities and in so doing would lose fundamental benefits and opportunities provided by the new scheme. Undoubtedly, the introduction of the HAP as a social housing support is a major change but the intention of it is that people who have social housing support needs are brought under the one system and in that sense, the local authority has certain obligations to them. It does not mean there will not be short-term rent supplement, which we will deal with later, but short-term rent supplement will continue for people who lose their jobs, for example, and are in urgent need of support etc. Unfortunately, I cannot accept the amendment.