19 July 2011
Press release: Clare Daly TD Socialist Party/United Left Alliance
Emerging chaos in Rent Supplement unit in Santry can be averted by retaining staff
Vulnerable people left waiting up to 18 weeks for rent supplement applications
Responding to the succession of non-renewals of staff contracts at the Rent Supplement Unit in Santry resulting in severe delays in client applications Clare Daly TD said:
"The processing of Rent Supplement applications is due to be transferred from the HSE to the Department of Social Protection in October. No provisions have been put in place to transfer the contract staff working at the Rent Supplement Unit in Santry to the Department of Social Protection where they could seamlessly perform the work they have been trained to do.
"Instead these 26 staff are being steadily let go in stages in advance of the transfer of the unit to the Department of Social Protection. This running down of the Unit in Santry is resulting in backlogs of dealing with applications ranging from ten to eighteen weeks. Many of the clients include vulnerable groups including the homeless and recently released prisoners striving to make the transition to independent living.
"These delays are jeopardising the securing of accommodation for many people as landlords are unwilling to wait up to four months before an application is granted. This is a situation that will only get worse if the staff cuts are not ended and reversed.
"I call on the Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Health to see to it that the transfer of the Rent Supplement Unit is done on a proper basis that protects the jobs of the contract staff and ensures that adequate resources are put in place to ensure rent supplement applications are dealt with speedily.
"I call on IMPACT to whom the staff in the Rent Supplement Unit belong to back the workers in their struggle to maintain jobs and services instead ."
Ends
For information and confirmation
Michael O'Brien 087 2400331
[CDPress]
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