COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, September 10, 2012

QUESTION NO. 19

QUESTION: Councillor D. Looney

To ask the Manager for a breakdown of statistics for those on the Housing List and associated lists in South Dublin, and for the numbers who have been housed in the County, year-on-year for the past 10 years, and to make a statement on how changes in housing policy are expected to meet future demand for Council housing in the coming years?

REPLY:

The following is the information readily available for the years 2008 to 2012(to August 2012):

Areas 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Number of applicants on Housing List     6,636     8,600      9,963    10,060      10,350 
Applicants in receipt of rent supplement     3,850       4,376      4,972       5,372         5,153
Allocations from Housing list      486         416          277          301           179 
RAS Allocations       273           304          321          202            131 
Transfer         56          112          89           111            57 

The information for the previous 4 years is being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Member.

It should be noted that approx 50% of applicants on the council’s housing list are in receipt of a social housing support in the form of rent supplement living in a home of their choice in an area of their choice. This is now defined as Social Housing Support under the Housing ( Miscellaneous Act Provisions) 2009.

The Housing Policy Statement of June 2011 sets out the Government's intended approach to addressing the housing challenges which now present and comes in the context of the dramatic changes in the economy generally, but particularly the housing economy, which have taken place. The Statement sets a context within which the legislative and policy framework to address housing need will be advanced.  It has a future vision based on choice, fairness, equity across tenures and on delivering quality outcomes for the resources invested.

Much of this is centred on a balanced housing sector that requires a strong, vibrant and well regulated rented sector and the social housing leasing initiative will be a key delivery mechanism.  In addition responsibility for housing support for those with long term housing needs and in receipt of Rent Supplement will transfer to Local Authorities under the introduction of HAP - Housing Assistance Payment.

HAP - Housing Assistance Payment  is anticipated to be piloted in 2013 with national introduction in 2014.  HAP will effectively be Rent Supplement administered by local housing authorities. Housing applicants will enter into standard leases with landlords and the council will pay the lease rent. The tenant will pay a differential rent to the housing authority appropriate to their means.

In the Housing Policy Statement the Government indicates its commitment to developing other funding mechanisms to increase the supply of permanent new social housing.

Such mechanisms include:

The Policy Statement also covers such areas as improving existing stock, meeting Specials Needs and Homelessness, homeowners in difficulty and Anti Social Behaviour.

The Council will continue to work with all relevant agencies in delivering Government policy on meeting the acute housing needs.