COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 14, 2014

MOTION NO.1

MOTION: Councillor Fintan Warfield

Mayors Business

That this council calls on the Chief Executive to inform the Minister that South Dublin County Council will not be implementing Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) as a pilot scheme until such time as all outstanding issues, including their implications, are clarified by the department.

REPORT:

Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a scheme whereby housing applicants in need of long term housing can continue to rent a private property suitable to their needs and the local authority will pay the lease rent to the landlord on behalf of the State. The applicant will in turn pay a differential rent to the LA.

The Limerick Local Authorities, by agreement with Departments of Environment Community and Local Government and the Department of Social Protection, have been chosen as the Pilot Local Authorities for roll-out of  HAP Scheme.  The national roll-out and implementation of the scheme would await legislation.  The scheme has been piloted in Limerick since February 2014 and significant progress has been made in terms of mapping the process and operational details which will assist in the an efficient rollout of the scheme.   

The Housing Assistance Scheme is outlined in Part 4 (sections 33 - 48) of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2014 which has been passed through the Dail on the 26th June 2014 and is now due to proceed through the Seanad with the intention of being enacted by the summer recess.  

South Dublin will not be a pilot but will form part of "Wave 1" in the implementation of HAP. This will not proceed until the legislation has been enacted and the necessary Commencement Orders issued by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.