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Fingal County Council has announced the application process for Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is set to move online.
A new Online Application Portal will be launched for HAP, a financial support to assist those renting privately and who are eligible for social housing support.
The online portal will go live on Monday, 04 October. This will mean that any citizen wishing to apply for HAP will have to do so online as paper forms are being phased out over the next few weeks.
The Housing Department recently introduced online application processes for an Affordable Housing Scheme and a Choice Based Letting Scheme these have proven to be highly efficient system and were widely used by applicants.
The Mayor of Fingal, Seána Ó Rodaigh said: "We are pleased to announce the new HAP online application process to the public. We have successfully introduced online processes for other housing schemes, and they have become very popular among applicants. This is a great step forward for Fingal County Council as it will speed up the HAP process and eliminates the need for paper forms, which is better for the environment."
An online application ensures that all the required information is submitted at the time of application including all necessary documents. This results in applications and documents being dealt with in a timely and efficient manner.
With the introduction of the HAP online portal, the Council will no longer be accepting paper applications. However, during a transition period up to 22 October 2021, paper forms that have been previously issued will be accepted. Anyone wanting to apply for HAP who does not have access to online facilities can avail of free internet access at any of the 10 Fingal County Council libraries located across the county.
Liam Burke, Fingal County Council's Acting Director of Housing and Community Development, added: "We are excited to launch the new online application process for HAP. This will only be necessary for new applicants. Those who have already applied need not apply again. We believe the new online portal will make the application process more efficient and easier for everyone."
