Sinn Féin bill seeks to exclude Hap from income calculations for civil legal aid

Senator Lynn Boylan says classing the housing support as income means many low-income applicants are denied free legal assistance

Lynn Boylan, the Sinn Féin Senator, said Hap was paid directly to a landlord by a local authority and so should not be treated as income. Picture: RollingNews.ie

Sinn Féin is to introduce a bill to stop the Housing Assistance Payment (Hap) being classed as income when determining eligibility for civil legal aid.

Established in 2014, the Hap scheme is a form of social housing support given to tenants in private landlord-owned properties.

Lynn Boylan, the Sinn Féin Senator, said Hap was paid directly to a landlord by a local authority and so should not be treated as income.

She is to introduce ...