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Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 16 November 2016

Wednesday, 16 November 2016

Ceisteanna (157, 163)

Willie O'Dea

Ceist:

157. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of rent supplement recipients by county; the number of persons who have had their rent supplement increased above the prescribed limit for their areas in 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35343/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Eoin Ó Broin

Ceist:

163. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of households in receipt of rent supplement; the total cost to the State per month arising from these payments; and the number of rent supplement claimants who have come off rent supplement and transferred directly into the housing assistance payment since that scheme was introduced. [35403/16]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 163 together.

Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting some 49,700 recipients for which the Government has provided €267 million for in 2016, approximately €22.3 million per month. A breakdown of rent supplement recipients by county is provided in the following tabular statement.

In recognition of supply difficulties for suitable rentable housing stock being experienced throughout the State, my Department has implemented a targeted policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the limits for both existing customers and new applicants to the rent supplement scheme. This has ensured that over 4,400 rent supplement households have been able to retain or acquire rented accommodation through increased rent supplement payments during 2016. A county breakdown of these payments is provided in the tabular statement.

The number of rent supplement tenancies transferred directly to the new housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme is almost 5,300; approximately 35% of the 14,960 tenancies currently in receipt of HAP. A county breakdown of these cases is provided in the following tabular statement.

In tandem with the revised rental limits introduced in July 2016 and on-going transfers to HAP, my Department will continue to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach where rents may exceed the appropriate maximum limit ensuring where possible the threat of homelessness for tenants can be avoided.

Table 1: Rent supplement Recipients by County – End October 2016

COUNTY

RECIPIENTS

%

CARLOW

651

1.3%

CAVAN

366

0.7%

CLARE

495

1.0%

CORK

5,249

10.6%

DONEGAL

501

1.0%

DUBLIN

20,842

41.9%

GALWAY

2,643

5.3%

KERRY

1,571

3.2%

KILDARE

2,724

5.5%

KILKENNY

358

0.7%

LAOIS

875

1.8%

LEITRIM

286

0.6%

LIMERICK

1,021

2.1%

LONGFORD

396

0.8%

LOUTH

959

1.9%

MAYO

1,126

2.3%

MEATH

1,097

2.2%

MONAGHAN

205

0.4%

OFFALY

595

1.2%

ROSCOMMON

566

1.1%

SLIGO

308

0.6%

TIPPERARY

1,006

2.0%

WATERFORD

662

1.3%

WESTMEATH

1,312

2.6%

WEXFORD

1,992

4.0%

WICKLOW

1,929

3.9%

Grand Total

49,735

100.0%

Table 2: Rent supplement Uplifts Awarded by County for 2016 (to 14 November 2016)

COUNTY

Awards under National Tenancy Sustainment Framework

Awards under protocol with Threshold

Total no. of increased payments by County

CARLOW

46

46

CAVAN

39

39

CLARE

0

0

CORK

210

22

232

DONEGAL

0

0

DUBLIN

1,673

732

2,405

GALWAY

91

2

93

KERRY

133

133

KILDARE

292

3

295

KILKENNY

23

23

LAOIS

18

18

LEITRIM

48

48

LIMERICK

0

0

LONGFORD

183

183

LOUTH

74

74

MAYO

0

0

MEATH

158

0

158

MONAGHAN

0

0

OFFALY

12

12

ROSCOMMON

37

37

SLIGO

1

1

TIPPERARY

109

109

WATERFORD

34

34

WESTMEATH

245

245

WEXFORD

13

13

WICKLOW

245

3

248

Grand Total

3,684

762

4,446

Table 3: HAP cases transferred from Rent Supplement (14 November 2016)

County

HAP Cases Transferred from Rent Supplement

Carlow

255

Clare

331

Cork

1,295

Donegal

516

Dublin

516

Galway

150

Kildare

269

Kilkenny

214

Limerick

540

Louth

391

Mayo

108

Meath

42

Monaghan

17

Offaly

3

Sligo

35

Tipperary

335

Waterford

247

Grand Total

5,264

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