Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the regulations applying to the award of rent supplement to people in need of housing; if those regulations include actions which the Health Service Executive and local authorities may take where an allegation is submitted that a recipient may be engaged in serious anti-social behaviour; and his views on the introduction of amending legislation if there is no such provision. [8484/06]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when the system of providing private rented accommodation through rent supplement will be brought within the housing function of the local authorities under the Housing Acts so that the public provision and proper estate management of housing accommodation will be regulated under the Housing Acts. [8485/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together.

Section 16 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 amends the Social Welfare Acts to enable the Health Service Executive to refuse or withdraw rent or mortgage interest supplementation for private houses under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme in the case of persons evicted, excluded or removed from, or refused housing on grounds of anti-social behaviour or in the interests of good estate management. The executive's discretion in this matter also applies where persons have been evicted or excluded from housing provided by a voluntary body.

Legislation to underpin the new rental accommodation scheme — under which local authorities are providing accommodation for certain recipients of SWA rent supplement who have been assessed as having a long-term housing need — will be made in a housing (miscellaneous provisions) Bill currently being prepared by my Department. The Bill will also strengthen the powers of housing authorities in dealing with anti-social behaviour. I expect to publish the Bill before the end of the year.