Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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146. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that HAP applications are being refused in cases in which household income was assessed as being over the income threshold for property owners whose homes have MICA and who will have to rent alternative accommodation when rebuilding works commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38610/21]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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147. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if it is planned to disregard income thresholds for HAP applicants whose homes have MICA and who have to rent alternative accommodation when works commence to repair or rebuild their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38611/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need.

In order to qualify for HAP, a household must first be assessed as eligible for social housing support. Applications for social housing support are assessed by the relevant local authority, in accordance with the eligibility and need criteria set down in section 20 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the associated Social Housing Assessment Regulations 2011, as amended.

If a household meets the eligibility and need criteria, it qualifies for the suite of social housing supports, including HAP, and is placed on the housing list to be considered for the allocation of suitable tenancies in accordance with the authority’s allocation scheme.

The Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme is available to assist homeowners to carry out remedial works, to their principal private residence, where the house is deemed to have been damaged, due to defective concrete blocks.

In response to concerns about the Defective Concrete Block Grant Scheme which have been raised by affected homeowners I established a time-bound working group, with representatives from my Department, the local authorities and homeowner representative groups, to review any outstanding issues in relation to the operation of the scheme, including issues such as grant caps, homeowner contributions, engineering and allowable costs, etc. “Allowable costs” include costs associated with accommodation where remediation option 1 (demolition and rebuild) is selected by the relevant engineer. I expect that the review, to be undertaken by the working group, will be completed by 31 July and will inform any changes or improvements to the scheme as may be required. Following receipt of the report of the working group I will, following consultation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Attorney General, bring proposals in this regard to Government.