Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 November 2023
148. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his attention has been drawn to a report (details supplied), which found that only 27 properties were available within standard/discretionary HAP limits nationwide, the lowest number recorded across the 31 such reports carried out to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48429/23]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q2 2023, over 112,900 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were over 58,200 households actively in receipt of HAP support. At end Q2 2023, nearly 4,200 new HAP tenancies had been created this year, which is an average of 161 new HAP tenancies per week.
Since 11 July 2022 each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households. Discretion can be increased up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits for Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of the discretion is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case.
From available data, at the end of Q2 2023, 63.9% of the total number of households being supported by HAP were benefiting from the additional flexibility, at an average rate of discretion of 26.5% above the relevant limit.
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis.
