Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2017
241. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the annualised cost of the average monthly rent paid to landlords under the HAP scheme in each of the years since the inception of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39962/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. There are currently more than 27,000 households having their housing needs met via HAP and some 20,000 separate landlords and agents currently in receipt of monthly HAP payments.
Limerick City and County Council provides a highly effective HAP transactional shared service on behalf of all local authorities. This HAP Shared Services Centre (SSC) manages all HAP related rental transactions for the tenant, local authority and landlord. All landlord costs are recouped via the HAP SSC.
It should also be borne in mind that the HAP scheme was implemented on a statutory phased pilot basis with an initial 7 local authorities operating the scheme for four months in 2014, an additional 11 in 2015, a further 10 in 2016 and HAP became a national scheme with its extension to the 3 remaining local authorities in the Dublin Region on 1 March 2017.
Furthermore, revised HAP and Rent Supplement rent limits took effect from 1 July 2016. Additional flexibility to exceed the prescribed maximum rent limits was extended to all local authorities where HAP was operational.
Taking these factors into account, the annualised cost of the average monthly rent paid to landlords under the HAP scheme in each of the years since the inception of the scheme is as follows:
|
Year |
Average monthly rent paid to landlords under the HAP scheme at year end |
Annualised cost of the average monthly rent paid to landlords under the HAP scheme |
|
2014 |
€462 |
€5,544 |
|
2015 |
€527 |
€6,324 |
|
2016 |
€636 |
€7,632 |
|
2017 |
€688 (at end of Q.2, 2017) |
€8,256 |
I continue to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review. I am satisfied with how the scheme is operating and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme committed to under Rebuilding Ireland.
