Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
630. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the options that are available to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39837/22]
View answerThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority.
The Programme for Government commits to ensuring that HAP levels are adequate to support vulnerable households, while the supply of social housing increases. I, in cooperation with Government colleagues and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, have now approved an increase in the HAP discretion rate from 20% to 35% and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single person households. This will secure more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness. Both these measures came into effect from 11 July 2022.
Each local authority now has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% 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.
My Department is aware that some HAP recipients are making payments directly to their landlords, beyond the amount of HAP being paid on their behalf. There is no legislative provision precluding HAP supported households contributing towards the monthly rent required by the landlord; however it is a matter for the local authority to determine, on a case by case basis, whether, and to what extent, the application of the flexibility is warranted. Local authorities also have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and that households in HAP are in a position to meet the rental costs involved.
The administration of the HAP scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and it is the responsibility of the local authority to make a decision in each individual case. As Minister, I am precluded from involvement in individual cases.
