Thanks for that.
I have just been talking to my local Local Authority and believe me while there are improvements, the system overall is held together by goodwill, doggedness, spit and sticky tape. It's a mixture of the LA web-site, Dept of Environment Rules, LA social housing data-base and bits of paper held together manually by stake-holder intervention at various stages. LA staff, landlords, tenants and Dept of Environment.
The HAP financial system is administered centrally from Limerick I'm told and the LA has to send bank details for LL payments to Limerick to be set up. This takes a minimum of two weeks. They do not pay deposits and only work in arrears as you say which potentially means a prospective client has to find a month's advance rent and the security deposit elsewhere (HSE, Social Protection, family or payment on the drip with an understanding landlord).
I've spoken with the out-going Minister's Office, Alan Kelly and with the HAP programme office in Wexford (053) 911 7418 and the LA. Between current LAs (Limerick, Cork Co Co, Waterford, Kilkenny Co Co, Louth Co Co Sth Dublin Co Co & Monaghan Co Co) who are piloting the scheme and final full rollout, there are lots of opportunities to make savings by using technology smarter and dispensing with forests fun of paper and printer-ink.