Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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49. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way the transition will take place for persons on rent supplement to the new scheme housing assistance payment; and in what order will persons be moved from rent supplement to the new scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43587/14]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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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 who are unable to provide for their accommodation costs from their own resources. The overall aim is to provide short term assistance, and not to act as an alternative to the other social housing schemes operated by the Exchequer. There are currently approximately 72,500 rent supplement recipients for which the Government has provided over €344 million for 2014.

The Department’s strategic policy direction is to transfer responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need to local authorities under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). HAP will provide a more integrated system of housing supports and has been designed to allow any households that find full-time employment to remain in the scheme. Rent supplement will continue to be paid to those already in the private rented sector who have a short-term need of rental support, often as a result of the loss of employment.

HAP was introduced in Cork County Council, Limerick City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council on 15th September, 2014 and in South Dublin County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Monaghan County Council and Louth County Council on 1st October, 2014.

To date, over 160 customers have been taken onto the HAP scheme, which includes both direct transfers from the rent supplement scheme and new applicants that have being assessed as qualifying for social housing support by the local authority. Prior to the introduction of HAP, new applicants qualifying for social housing support were eligible for rent supplement. The Department is requesting rent supplement recipients, who have been in receipt of the supplement for periods in excess of 18 months, to apply to the housing authority for a social housing assessment and as a consequence, an assessment for social housing support including HAP.

Department of Social Protection officials are continuing to work closely with those in the lead Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to support the implementation of HAP within the selected local authorities.