Housing Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 April 2024

Tuesday, 9 April 2024

Questions (641)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

641. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when current HAP limits for County Kildare are due to be reviewed, in light of continually rising rent levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14303/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. 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. Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and are advised not to provide HAP support to tenancies where the household would not be in a position to meet the rental costs being sought

Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment above the prescribed maximum rent limit in order to secure appropriate accommodation for a household that requires it. In July 2022, this discretion level was increased from 20% to 35% and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households in each local authority area. Up to 50% discretion can be provided in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. 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.

At end Q3 2023 the total number of households being supported by HAP in Kildare County Council was 1,847 and 65% of the households being supported by HAP in Kildare County Council were benefiting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment being used was almost 19% above the rent limits.

My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis.