Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 February 2024
334. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of times the discretionary top-up for HAP payments was used in 2023, and to date in 2024 in County Wicklow broken down by municipal district; the average percentage amount of this top-up per district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7458/24]
View answer335. 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 HAP payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7459/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together.
The 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.
Since July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households. Discretion can be increased up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits for Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine whether the application of the flexibility is warranted on a case-by-case basis and also the level of discretion applied in each case.
The latest data available covers the period up to end Q3 2023. The table below provides a breakdown of the total number of active HAP tenancies at the end of Q3 2023, including the number of households in receipt of discretion and the average discretionary increase paid, for each of the municipal districts in County Wicklow.
|
Municipal Area |
Active Tenancies at end Q3 2023 |
No. of tenancies that received discretion |
Average Discretion Rate |
|
Arklow |
576 |
214 |
18% |
|
Baltinglass |
171 |
60 |
19% |
|
Bray |
207 |
107 |
20% |
|
Greystones |
118 |
64 |
21% |
|
Wicklow |
347 |
153 |
19% |
|
Other* |
96 |
67 |
20% |
*inter-authority movements, whilst the tenant is registered with Wicklow, the tenancy is outside of the county.
