Brendan Ryan (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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I thank Ms Faughnan and her team for their assistance with our work. Representatives of Threshold, who appeared before the committee just prior to the Department officials, came up with a range of administrative reform measures, which they said would not cost much but would increase the confidence of landlords in the rent supplement scheme. Ms Faughnan might briefly consider them now and while I do not expect her to give me her view on them I would appreciate if she would come back to us later.

These are to provide for the automatic payment of RS directly to landlords; ensure that RS is paid in advance, rather than in arrears; introduce a pre-approval mechanism for RS claimants who have been assessed by the local authorities; review the documentation requirements for RS and provide for direct submission of confidential documents by landlords to community welfare service staff; restore the face-to-face applications facility in local social welfare offices; ensure that eligible RS recipients are afforded an exceptional needs payment where they require a sum of money for a security deposit; ensure that RS claimants are given at least 28 days' notice of the suspension or termination of RS payments; and place greater reliance on the local review process in respect of RS decisions, afford priority to appeals relating to RS claims, and ensure that RS continues to be paid while an appeal is pending. There is a range of items on which we would like a direct response, if the assistant secretary could provide it, although not necessarily today.