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Housing Assistance Payment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 February 2018

Tuesday, 13 February 2018

Ceisteanna (676, 677)

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

676. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the steps he has taken to ensure the housing assistance payment rates are in line with market rents in Cork city; if a review has been conducted recently (details supplied); if there is a review scheduled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7271/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Billy Kelleher

Ceist:

677. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to extend the 50% homeless rate of HAP to support those leaving homelessness available in the Dublin region to the Cork and other regions (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7272/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 676 and 677 together.

The Homeless HAP Place Finder Service operating in the Dublin local authorities, and in Cork City Council, is a targeted support for homeless households who are finding it difficult to secure HAP tenancies. The Place Finder Service has been successfully utilised by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) across the Dublin local authorities since February 2015, with more than 2,000 households currently being supported by the Homeless HAP scheme. A similar service began operating in Cork City in 2017.

In order to further assist homeless households in exiting emergency accommodation the Homeless HAP Place Finder Service is now available in each of the 31 local authorities. All local authorities are now being provided with the options to pay deposits and advance rental payments for any households in emergency homeless accommodation, in order to secure accommodation via the HAP scheme.

From available data, at the end of Q4 2017, approximately 22% of the total number of households being supported by HAP were benefitting from the additional flexibility that was provided to local authorities to exceed the maximum rent limits. When the additional discretion available to homeless households in the Dublin Region is removed, 16.7% of households nationally were benefitting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment being applied was 15.7% above rent limits provided. In the case of Cork City Council, at the end of Q4, 2017, 34.3% of households had benefitted from additional discretion with the average rate being 14% above the rent limits provided.

My Department and I are constantly monitoring HAP data, as well as other key information relating to the private rental market. Indications are that the current HAP rent limits and the flexibility to exceed those rent limits provide local authorities with sufficient capacity to assist households in securing rented accommodation that meets their needs. Increasing the HAP rent limits in particular local authority areas could have further inflationary effects on the private rented sector, which could have a detrimental impact on the wider rental market, including for those households who are not receiving HAP support.

In cases where a tenant, currently on a local authority waiting list, wishes to access rented accommodation with HAP support in another local authority area, I have directed local authorities to provide that HAP tenants continue to be dealt with by their originating local authority. However, the rent limits will be those that apply in the local authority where the property is situated. The originating local authority will engage with the relevant new local authority to facilitate eligible requests for inter-authority movement. Where homeless households have sourced or been assisted by the Place Finder Service in sourcing accommodation outside the Dublin area, the relevant rate of support is based on the rent limits that apply in the local authority where the property is situated. The DRHE have been advised to consult with the new local authority in relation to the appropriate level of support that should be provided. However, the Place Finder Service can still pay a deposit and rent in advance on behalf of the tenant.

In order to maintain the equitable treatment of all housing applicants, inter-authority movement for HAP applicants is based on the current social housing eligibility income bands, i.e. movement will only be facilitated across local authorities with income bands that are equal or higher; or where shared areas of choice are already operated.

I am satisfied with how the HAP scheme is currently operating and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme under Rebuilding Ireland. My Department will, of course, continue to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review.

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