Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 October 2022
313. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times the discretionary top-up for housing assistance payments was used in County Kildare in 2021 from quarter 1 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. [48558/22]
View answer314. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of persons from each municipal district in County Kildare who are currently in receipt of a housing assistance payment at and below the prescribed limits per family size occupying same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48559/22]
View answer315. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of family units that are under-accommodated from each municipal district in County Kildare and that are currently in receipt of a housing assistance payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48560/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 313 to 315, inclusive, together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q2 2022, over 104,700 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were over 60,700 households actively in receipt of HAP support, including 2,155 active tenancies Kildare.
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. On 11 July 2022 I introduced an increase in the HAP discretion rate to 35% and for new tenancies, expanded the couple’s rate to single person households.
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.
The table below provides a breakdown of the total number of active HAP tenancies at the end of each quarter from January 2021 to end Q2 2022, including the number of households in receipt of discretion and the average discretionary increase paid, for each of the municipal districts in Kildare.
Kildare discretion by municipal area at end Q1 2021
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies @end Q1 2021 |
No. of tenancies that received discretion |
Average Discretion Rate |
|
Athy |
566 |
168 |
15% |
|
Celbridge - Leixlip |
243 |
197 |
17% |
|
Kildare - Newbridge |
719 |
366 |
12% |
|
Maynooth |
327 |
215 |
16% |
|
Naas |
426 |
270 |
15% |
|
Other MAs outside LA |
84 |
56 |
17% |
Kildare discretion by municipal area at end Q2 2021
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies @end Q2 2021 |
No. of tenancies that received discretion |
Average Discretion Rate |
|
Athy |
561 |
168 |
16% |
|
Celbridge - Leixlip |
250 |
205 |
16% |
|
Kildare - Newbridge |
704 |
369 |
12% |
|
Maynooth |
326 |
219 |
16% |
|
Other MAs outside LA |
93 |
61 |
17% |
Kildare discretion by municipal area at end Q3 2021
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies @end Q3 2021 |
No. of tenancies that received discretion |
Average Discretion Rate |
|
Athy |
562 |
183 |
15% |
|
Celbridge - Leixlip |
254 |
216 |
17% |
|
Kildare - Newbridge |
702 |
378 |
13% |
|
Maynooth |
331 |
236 |
16% |
|
Naas |
428 |
280 |
16% |
|
Other MA's outside LA |
100 |
65 |
18% |
Kildare discretion by municipal area at end Q4 2021
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies @end Q4 2021 |
No. of tenancies that received discretion |
Average Discretion Rate |
|
Athy |
509 |
165 |
15% |
|
Celbridge - Leixlip |
244 |
203 |
17% |
|
Kildare - Newbridge |
697 |
383 |
13% |
|
Maynooth |
315 |
213 |
16% |
|
Naas |
434 |
276 |
16% |
|
Other MAs outside LA |
102 |
68 |
18% |
Kildare discretion by municipal area at end Q1 2022
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies @end Q1 2022 |
No. of tenancies that received discretion |
Average Discretion Rate |
|
Athy |
494 |
169 |
15% |
|
Celbridge - Leixlip |
237 |
198 |
17% |
|
Kildare - Newbridge |
676 |
380 |
13% |
|
Maynooth |
293 |
198 |
16% |
|
Naas |
412 |
271 |
16% |
|
Other MAs outside LA |
105 |
74 |
18% |
Kildare discretion by municipal area at end Q2 2022
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies @end Q2 2022 |
No. of tenancies that received discretion |
Average Discretion Rate |
|
Athy |
470 |
167 |
15% |
|
Celbridge - Leixlip |
226 |
189 |
17% |
|
Kildare - Newbridge |
657 |
374 |
13% |
|
Maynooth |
279 |
190 |
16% |
|
Naas |
391 |
261 |
16% |
|
Other MAs outside LA |
112 |
81 |
18% |
A key principle of the HAP scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector, which best suits their needs, in their area of choice. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.
Decisions in relation to HAP, including the suitability of HAP accommodation, is solely a matter for the local authority concerned and my Department does not hold data in relation to same.
