John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1078: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of the seven pilot projects affecting 5,000 local authority housing applicants relative to their application for housing and their private rented accommodation; if each will be asked to pay differential rent or will the existing rent levels continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10301/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the rental accommodation scheme announced by the Government in July 2004, local authorities will over a four-year period progressively assume responsibility for accommodating supplementary welfare allowance rent supplement recipients of 18 months or more continuous duration with a long-term housing need. The scheme is a collaborative project between the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, local authorities, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the community welfare service.

All local authorities are due to implement the new arrangements in 2005. Roll-out has commenced in an initial group of lead authorities, namely, Dublin, Galway and Limerick city councils, south Dublin, Donegal, Offaly and Westmeath county councils and Drogheda Borough Council. The main actions to date have been to put in place the structures necessary to commence the project, identify and resolve issues arising and to engage resources needed to support implementation.

Programme managers have been appointed initially to assist the lead authorities but thereafter to be available to support other authorities over the implementation period. Regional and local implementation groups in the lead authority areas have been established to ensure effective ongoing liaison and co-operation locally between housing authorities, Health Service Executive areas and other welfare agencies. A number of seminars have been held in the lead authorities to inform accommodation providers of the new scheme and to receive their views.

Work is ongoing in the lead authorities towards identifying those on rent supplement who are in need of long-term housing support. Starting with persons who have been in receipt of rent supplement for 18 months or more, community welfare officers in Health Service Executive areas have commenced a review of cases which, subject to meeting eligibility criteria, are in the process of being transferred to the relevant housing authority for the purposes of establishing long-term housing need. If a long-term housing need is identified by the local authority, it will start to source suitable accommodation for the household under the rental accommodation scheme as quickly as possible. The pilot local authorities have already initiated contact with accommodation providers in their areas. Pilot projects to secure long-term contracts for the supply of rented accommodation are also being advanced.

The rental accommodation scheme is an additional housing option. Eligible persons can indicate their preference to be accommodated by local authorities under the scheme or social housing, or to be considered under both. Tenants will initially make the same rent contribution under the rental accommodation scheme upon transfer as they have done before now under the rent supplement scheme, subject to there being no change in the tenant's family circumstances. The contribution under the rental accommodation scheme will be brought in line with the differential rents scheme for the area over time.