Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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56. To ask the Minister for Social Protection how she will assess the impact on the changes in service provision arising from the withdrawal of Community Welfare Service access to customers; when such impact assessments will be available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7065/16]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Following the transfer of the Community Welfare Service (CWS) from the Health Service Executive to the Department in 2011, the Department has re-engineered its business model to support the provision of integrated services across all business streams involved in the delivery of localised services. As part of this strategy, the Department is engaged in the delivery of integrated Intreo centres, which provide a full range of services, including the CWS, generally available in one location.

Significant improvements in claim processing through the development of the Integrated Decisions model has considerably reduced dependence on supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) by people awaiting decisions on their claims.

Where the CWS has been restructured alternative arrangements have been put in place to ensure that customers are provided with on-going access to the supports provided by the service. For example, where a customer is unable to travel to a clinic, alternative arrangements are available including improved phone services and if necessary arranging a visit to the client’s home.

People claiming supports under the SWA scheme generally only interact with the Department on an occasional basis, for example, when seeking an exceptional needs payment or in claiming additional supports such as rent supplement. In County Kildare the numbers relying on support under rent supplement will further reduce with the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

The staffing needs for all areas within the Department are continuously reviewed, to ensure that the best use is made of all available resources with a view to providing an efficient service to those who rely on the schemes operated by the Department.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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57. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will implement a Homeless Persons Support Unit in Counties Kildare, Meath and Wicklow to cope with the increasing number of homeless persons presenting; how the service will accommodate the interim support needs of this cohort; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7066/16]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department of Social Protection, through the Community Welfare Service (CWS) provides assistance with income maintenance to homeless persons. The first point of contact for homeless clients to access this service is their local community welfare service.

Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 57,600 people for which the Government has provided approximately €267 million for 2016.

The Department introduced a Divisional Framework on preventing Tenancy Loss for Rent Supplement Recipients in January 2015 to provide for a targeted approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the limits for both existing customers and new applicants to the rent supplement scheme. Each household’s circumstances are considered on a case-by-case basis and Rent Supplement is paid to them at rates above the prescribed maximum rent limits where homelessness or the threat of homelessness is a factor. This targeted approach has assisted over 7,450 households nationwide to retain their rented accommodation through increased rent payments, with approximately 790 households assisted in Kildare, Meath and Wicklow. A detailed breakdown for the relevant Counties is provided.

The Rent Supplement Unit for Mid-Leinster administers this framework for Counties Kildare, Wicklow and Carlow. It has a number of Designated Officers who deal with the issue of threatened homelessness and they liaise with homeless agencies and homeless representatives to provide immediate support by way of the Rent Supplement scheme to prevent homelessness.

The Department’s strategic policy direction is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short-term income support scheme. In July 2013, the Government approved the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). Under HAP, the responsibility for the provision of rent support to those with long-term housing needs transferred from the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to Local Authorities. This applies both to existing and new customers of the Rent Supplement scheme, who have already been assessed by their Local Authority as having a housing need. There are now over 8,300 persons in receipt of HAP of which over 280 are in the Kildare and Meath areas. Both Kildare and Meath Local Authorities introduced HAP as part of their suite of supports available on 2 November 2015.

Support is also available to assist persons under the Exceptional Needs Payments (ENPs) scheme towards rent deposits or rent in advance for both rent supplement and HAP recipients. In 2015, DSP made a total of some 2,500 rent deposit payments at a cost of €1.4 million.

Persons in danger of becoming homeless should make immediate contact with the Community Welfare Service of the Department of Social Protection or the Threshold Tenancy Sustainment Service.

Total Increased Rental Payments by County as at 11/04/2016