Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 January 2019
260. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on the housing assistance payment per annum since its establishment; the estimated cost in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3296/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra261. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of recipients of the housing assistance payment since its inception; the estimated cost in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3297/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 261 together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. Data to end 2018 is not yet available; however, at the end of Quarter 3 2018, there were more than 40,800 households having their housing needs met via HAP and some 25,500 separate landlords and agents in receipt of monthly HAP payments.
HAP is funded through a combination of Exchequer monies and tenant differential rents collected in respect of HAP tenancies. Budget 2019 has increased the Exchequer funding for the HAP scheme to €422 million. This will allow for the continued support of existing HAP households and also enable the additional 16,760 households targeted under Rebuilding Ireland to be supported by HAP in 2019, as well as supporting the roll-out of the Homeless HAP Place Finder Support Service across the country.
Details on the Exchequer funding for HAP from 2014 to 2018 are set out in the table below:
|
Year |
Additional Households supported at end of year |
Outturn€M |
|
2014 |
485 |
€0.39m |
|
2015 |
5,680 |
€15.64m |
|
2016 |
12,075 |
€57.69m |
|
2017 |
17,916 |
€152.69m |
|
2018 |
13,741 (end Q3 2018)* |
€276.6m (full year) |
*Data in respect of Q4 2018 will be available shortly.
