COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

South Dublin County Council Crest

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE

Monday, September 08, 2014

QUESTION NO. 22

QUESTION: Councillor M. Duff

"To ask the Chief Executive to please indicate the number of families that have presented as homeless since January 2014 and would he indicate when it is proposed to introduce the Housing Assistance Payments Scheme and how many families will be targeted for assistance in 2014, under the auspices of HAP.

REPLY:

During the period 01/01/2014 to 27/08/2014 , 97 families were assessed and placed into emergency homeless accommodation.  An additional 46 families are assessed as requiring emergency accommodation and have been referred to the Centralised Placement Service for placement – these families are currently staying with family or friends. South Dublin County Council have allocated units to almost 80 persons from our Homeless list to date this year.

HAP pilot commenced in Limerick local Authorities in Q1 2014 to test certain elements of the HAP scheme in advance of the legislation being in place.  As the necessary legislation has now been enacted, Wave 1 of HAP will now commence in the other authorities selected to take part in this phase.  It is further noted that the intention is to commence with Limerick City and County Council, Cork County Council and Waterford City and County Council either on or after 1 September 2014.  The exact dates for the remaining authorities in Wave 1 which includes South Dublin, Kilkenny County Council, Monaghan County Council and Louth County Council has yet to be determined and the Department will advise the authorities in due course. The initial target set for South Dublin County Council was 1,151 but that was based on an anticpated start date of May 2014. This target will have to be revised.

The focus will be on transferring households from rent supplement into HAP, although a housing authority may decide to accommodate those in Local Authority accommodation, Approved Housing body accommodation, or leased accommodation, where it considers appropriate.   The Housing Authorities are still awaiting the necessary commencement orders,guidelines and Ministerial Directions in relation to HAP. It should be noted that Dublin Regional Homeless Executive are also part of the Wave 1 of HAP and South Dublin County Council will be working closely also with them with the specific homeless focus.