The provisional expenditure of Rent Supplement paid by the Department of Social Protection at end of October 2022 was €63.7 million. Rent supplement’s expenditure breakdown by county is not maintained.
The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source. The scheme ensures that those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment or income, can continue to meet their rental commitments
Since the introduction of HAP, rent supplement is reverting to its original role of providing short-term support to those who have become temporarily unemployed and require income support to meet their tenancy cost while they seek alternative employment.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.