Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
550. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount that has been spent on rent subsidies including rent supplement, the housing assistance payment, the rental accommodation scheme and long-term leasing each year over the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1867/22]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP), the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and Long-term Leasing are forms of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need.
Exchequer funding on these schemes for the period 2011 to 2021, is set out in the following table:
|
Year |
Long-Term Leasing |
HAP |
RAS |
|
|
€m. |
€m. |
€m. |
|
2011 |
|
|
115.9 |
|
2012 |
|
|
125.4 |
|
2013 |
|
|
130.9 |
|
2014 |
|
0.4* |
133.5 |
|
2015 |
|
15.6 |
136.6 |
|
2016 |
|
57.7 |
144.9 |
|
2017 |
|
152.7 |
144.3 |
|
2018 |
|
276.6 |
143.3 |
|
2019 |
26.8** |
382.4 |
144.3 |
|
2020 |
37.2 |
464.7 |
143.0 |
|
2021 |
55.4 |
541.7 |
122.0 |
*The HAP scheme was rolled out to local authorities in four waves between September 2014 and March 2017.
**The amount paid for long-term leasing is included within the overall Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme spend. A breakdown was not available prior to 2019. The values provided include Local Authority long term leasing, Approved Housing Body Leasing and Enhanced Leasing.
Under Housing for All, the Government plans to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 homes per year over the next decade, including an average of 10,000 new build social homes. As new build supply of social housing ramps up, there will be reducing reliance on the HAP and RAS schemes.
Long Term Leasing will be phased out by 2025. This phasing out process will involve my officials engaging with local authorities, to ensure that the correct processes are put in place to ensure a managed end to leasing.
Responsibility for the Rent Supplement Scheme falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection.
