Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 June 2021
222. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times the discretionary top-up for HAP payments was used in 2020 in County Wexford by municipal district; the average percentage amount of this top-up per municipal district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34458/21]
View answer224. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons from each municipal district in County Wexford who are currently in receipt of a HAP payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34460/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 224 together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of 2020, over 86,900 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were nearly 60,000 households actively in receipt of HAP support. Of that, 1,613 households were actively in receipt of HAP support in County Wexford at end December 2020.
Local authorities have discretion, because of local rental market conditions, to exceed the maximum rent limit by up to 20%, or up to 50% in the Dublin region for those households either in, or at immediate risk of homelessness. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine whether the application of the flexibility is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case.
At the end of Q4 2020, 50.4% of the total number of households supported by HAP were benefiting from the additional flexibility. If the additional discretion available to homeless households in the Dublin Region is removed, then 44.7% of households nationally were benefiting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment was 17% above HAP rent limits.
A breakdown of the number of HAP tenancies in 2020, and the average rate of discretion applied, for the municipal areas requested is set out in the following table:
Wexford Summary
|
MD |
Active tenancies |
In receipt of discretion @ Q4 2020 |
Average Rate of Discretion |
|
Enniscorthy |
343 |
129 |
16% |
|
Gorey/Kilmuckridge |
360 |
217 |
18% |
|
New Ross |
301 |
119 |
17% |
|
Wexford Borough |
503 |
257 |
17% |
|
Rosslare |
62 |
37 |
19% |
|
Other* |
44 |
17 |
17% |
|
Total |
1613 |
681 |
17% |
*Inter-authority movements, whilst the tenant is registered with Wexford, the tenancy is outside of the county.
