Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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481. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the implementation of the proposed housing assistance payment can be fast-tracked to assist in alleviating the problem of housing which is particularly prominent in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26085/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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On 30 April 2014 Government approved the publication of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 which will, when enacted before the end of the current Oireachtas session, provide the legislative framework for the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). My Department and the Department of Social Protection continue to work closely on the legal, policy and operational issues involved in developing and introducing HAP.

Limerick City and County Council has been identified as the lead authority to drive implementation in the local government sector, including an administrative pilot which is currently underway to test certain elements of the scheme in advance of the legislation being enacted. Following the enactment of the legislation, a statutory pilot phase will commence in Limerick and the six other local authorities identified for participation in Wave 1 of implementing HAP. These are South Dublin County Council, Cork County Council, Waterford City and County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Louth County Council and Monaghan County Council.

The introduction of HAP will bring about a major change in the way in which social housing support is provided in this country. A review of both the administrative and statutory pilot phases will be carried out prior to commencing a wider roll-out on a phased basis to the remaining local authorities commencing in 2015. The review process of both phases will be instrumental in identifying the on-going resource requirements and any necessary changes to the scheme in advance of general roll-out.