Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 4 May 2022
187. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current number of households with HAP tenancies; the number of these households that have requested flexibility to breech HAP rental limits; the number of these households to which flexibility has been approved to breech HAP rental limits for the local authority area of County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21871/22]
View answerAt the end of 2021, 100,077 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were 61,907 households actively in receipt of HAP support and over 33,400 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme.
Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 20% above the prescribed maximum rent limit to secure appropriate accommodation for a household that requires it, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. At the end of 2021, 57% of the total number of households being supported by HAP were benefiting from the additional flexibility, at an average rate of discretion of 24.2% above the relevant limit.
When the additional discretion available to homeless households in the Dublin Region is removed, 51.2%, of households nationally were benefiting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment being used was 17.3% above the relevant limit.
At end 2021, there were 1,792 households actively in receipt of HAP support in Donegal. 12% of the total number of households being supported by HAP in Donegal were benefiting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment being used was 19.9% above rent limits provided.
Under Housing for All, my Department was tasked with undertaking an analytical exercise to examine whether an increase in the level of the 20% discretion available to Local Authorities under HAP is required, in order to maintain adequate levels of HAP support. The Housing Agency undertook to carry out this analytical exercise on behalf of my Department. The review was submitted on 20 December 2021. It is undergoing analysis by my Department and I expect to receive recommendations following that analysis.
