Mr. Michael Layde:

On the homelessness policy, I stress that it is a national policy and that the national implementation plan is precisely that. I have mentioned that Dublin City Council has a specific action plan which it is finalising, but it comes in the context of the overall implementation plan and is designed to apply the principle specifically to Dublin where the problem is concentrated. However, it is recognised that homelessness presents as an issue in other areas also and the implementation plan reflects this. The composition of the high level group overseeing the plan reflects this, in that while the DCC chief executive officer is a member, one of the local authority chief executive officers from outside Dublin is also a member. The HSE representative is based outside Dublin; therefore, it is very much a national plan. The prevention campaign launched earlier today is a particular initiative of Dublin City Council in collaboration with the Department of Social Protection. Obviously, there is the potential to consider extending it elsewhere.

On the specific issue relating to Kildare, the funding arrangement that applies to the regional homelessness groupings is that each grouping enters into a service protocol with the Department and funds can then be drawn down. This has yet to be finalised with Kildare County Council and once it has been done, the requisite funding can be made available.

With regard to the resources available for the HAP, clearly it is a major undertaking by local authorities. We are working very closely with them and the County and City Management Association to ensure the necessary resources are in place. The work taking place in Limerick on a trial basis which will extend to the other local authorities in the latter part of the year will allow us to test this in the field and ensure the necessary resources are available. As the Deputy pointed out, the availability of resources varies from local authority to local authority, as does the volume of customers; therefore, we need to ensure the necessary resources are available. We will keep the matter under continuous review.

The HAP represents a significant change in how we deliver social housing. We believe it is progressive. It is an evolution from the RAS which has been in place for a number of years and worked successfully. It is not the case that the private sector providing the accommodation will be in any way unregulated. The contractual arrangement will be between the local housing authority and the landlord. The tenant will pay a differential rent to the local authority and there will be a clear relationship which will include a quality control and standards relationship between the local housing authority and landlords, be they large landlords, of whom there will probably be more in the future, or landlords who own one or two properties, to whom the Deputy alluded.

We seek to promote security of tenure. The important point is that once somebody is deemed to be eligible for social housing and has an established social housing need, there is a continuing obligation on the local authority to ensure it is met even in circumstances where, for whatever reason, their existing accommodation becomes unavailable.

On the specific question of the RAS, it will continue this year in terms of the roll-over of customers already in it and with provision for approximately 2,500 further transitions under the scheme from rent supplement in the current year.