Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
2776. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of housing assistance payment tenancies in 2017 and to date in 2018; the estimated full year number for 2018 and 2019; the cost in each year by local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35267/18]
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. HAP plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. There are currently more than 38,000 households having their housing needs met via HAP and over 21,000 landlords and agents in receipt of HAP payments.
Budget 2018 has increased the exchequer funding for the HAP scheme from €149 million to €301 million in order to meet the continuing costs of existing households and the costs of meeting the additional 17,000 households, targeted under Rebuilding Ireland, to be supported by HAP in 2018.
In respect of the provision of HAP funding, 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. Accordingly, my Department does not recoup individual local authorities in respect of HAP rental payments in their administrative areas but rather recoups all landlord costs via the HAP SSC.
At the end of Quarter 4 2017 there were 36,146 HAP tenancies set up. There were 17,916 tenancies set up during 2017. At the end of Quarter 2, 2018, there was a total of 45,229 HAP Tenancies set up, of which 9,083 were set up in 2018.
The targets for the number of HAP tenancies to be set up in 2018 and 2019 are 17,000 and 16,760, respectively.
