Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government where he sees potential savings coming from in the transfer of the allocation of rent supplement to local councils. [30397/11]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Proposals for the transfer of responsibility for households in receipt of rent supplement, but with an identified housing need, from the community welfare service to housing authorities are being developed in my Department in conjunction with the Department of Social Protection. At this point these proposals are being advanced on a 'cost neutral' basis. However, it is considered likely that improvements in the regulation of the extended social housing market and the removal of employment traps that currently exist under rent supplement will result in efficiency gains and cost savings in the medium to long term.

The Government has yet to make a formal decision on any transfer of responsibilities for rent supplement and, in accordance with normal practice, will only do so when the cost benefit implications of such a transfer are known.