Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
427. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times that the discretionary top-up for housing assistance payments was used in County Wicklow in 2021 as at end of Q4 2021 and to date in 2022 by municipal district; the average percentage amount of this top-up per district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37656/22]
View answer428. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons from each municipal district in County Wicklow that are currently in receipt of a housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37657/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 427 and 428 together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q4 2021, over 100,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were nearly 62,000 households actively in receipt of HAP support, including 1,711 households in Wicklow.
At the end of Q1 2022, over 102,500 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were nearly 61,500 households actively in receipt of HAP support, including 1,694 households in Wicklow. Local authorities have had 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 is a matter for each local authority to determine whether the application of a discretionary increase is warranted, and the level of such an increase, on a case-by-case basis.
I have now introduced an increase in the HAP discretion rate to 35% and, for new tenancies, expanded the couple’s rate to single persons. This will secure more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness.
I have signed the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 342 of 2022) providing for these changes, which took effect from Monday, 11 July 2022.
A breakdown of the number of HAP tenancies at end Q4 2021and Q1 2022 with the average discretionary increase paid for each of the municipal districts in Wicklow is detailed in the table below:-
Wicklow Q4 2021 Discretion Rate
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies @ end Q4 2021 |
No. of tenancies that received discretion |
Average Discretion Rate |
|
Arklow |
682 |
190 |
16% |
|
Baltinglass |
163 |
48 |
16% |
|
Bray |
227 |
90 |
17% |
|
Greystones |
170 |
82 |
19% |
|
Wicklow |
375 |
128 |
17% |
|
Other* |
93 |
64 |
18% |
Wicklow Q1 2022 Discretion Rate
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies @ end Q1 2021 |
No. of tenancies that received discretion |
Average Discretion Rate |
|
Arklow |
673 |
191 |
16% |
|
Baltinglass |
159 |
48 |
16% |
|
Bray |
226 |
94 |
17% |
|
Greystones |
160 |
78 |
19% |
|
Wicklow |
378 |
130 |
17% |
|
Other* |
98 |
68 |
18% |
*Inter-authority movements, whilst the tenant is registered with Wicklow County Council, the tenancy is located outside of the county.
I am committed to decreasing our reliance on the HAP scheme and we will only do that through significantly scaling up our social housing supply. ‘Housing for all’ sets us on a pathway to delivering 90,000 social homes between now and the end of 2030 including 9,000 this year.
