Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when she expects responsibility for the housing needs of those on local authority housing waiting lists to transfer to the local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11137/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are currently approximately 78,000 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014. The purpose of the rent supplement scheme is to provide short-term income support to assist with reasonable accommodation costs of eligible people living in private rented accommodation. The Department’s strategic policy direction is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of a short-term income support. In July 2013, the Government approved the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) under which responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need will transfer from this Department to local authorities. There are over 50,000 in receipt of rent supplement for over 18 months.

Officials in the Department of Social Protection are working with those in the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, who are leading the project, in developing proposals to give effect to this transfer. It is intended that the scheme will be piloted in Limerick local authority by end March 2014 with further roll out to selected local authorities during the year.