Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 July 2019
422. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the number of HAP and RAS recipients, respectively, by council area at the end of 2017, 2018 and in 2019 to date; the projected full year numbers for 2019 in view of the fact the information is not available on the website in this format; the full year costs of each scheme in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30347/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a flexible and immediate housing support that is available to all eligible households throughout the State. At the end of Quarter 1 2019, there were 45,900 active tenancies in receipt of HAP support
The following table sets out the number of active HAP tenancies by local authority area at end 2017, end 2018 and end Quarter 1 2019:
|
Local Authority |
Active HAP Tenancies 2017 |
Active HAP Tenancies 2018 |
Active HAP Tenancies Q1 2019 |
|
Carlow County Council |
581 |
706 |
707 |
|
Cavan County Council |
131 |
275 |
301 |
|
Clare County Council |
1193 |
1335 |
1332 |
|
Cork City Council |
1625 |
2063 |
2167 |
|
Cork County Council |
2647 |
3339 |
3427 |
|
Donegal County Council |
1627 |
1729 |
1727 |
|
Dublin City Council |
1027 |
2219 |
2594 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
165 |
388 |
437 |
|
Fingal County Council |
488 |
1286 |
1436 |
|
Galway City Council |
919 |
1351 |
1465 |
|
Galway County Council |
728 |
981 |
1052 |
|
Kerry County Council |
427 |
898 |
1002 |
|
Kildare County Council |
1436 |
1892 |
2042 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
836 |
869 |
866 |
|
Laois County Council |
316 |
657 |
715 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
95 |
208 |
223 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
1948 |
2175 |
2219 |
|
Longford County Council |
128 |
291 |
297 |
|
Louth County Council |
1969 |
2643 |
2786 |
|
Mayo County Council |
817 |
1120 |
1158 |
|
Meath County Council |
1220 |
1740 |
1804 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
437 |
530 |
555 |
|
Offaly County Council |
684 |
845 |
862 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
171 |
354 |
370 |
|
Sligo County Council |
467 |
648 |
677 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
2180 |
2605 |
2657 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
1633 |
1767 |
1772 |
|
Waterford City & County Council |
1605 |
1833 |
1826 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
366 |
656 |
716 |
|
Wexford County Council |
536 |
1020 |
1131 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
424 |
908 |
1036 |
|
Dublin Regional Homeless Executive |
2402 |
4112 |
4556 |
|
Totals |
31228 |
43443 |
45915 |
The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) was established in 2005 and requires local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of people that are in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 months or longer, and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need.
Data for the years 2011 to 2018 on the number and cost of tenancies funded under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) scheme is available on my Department's website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/social-and-affordble/overall-social-housing-provision.
The most recent RAS tenancy data, broken down per local authority, is detailed in the following table. At the end of March 2019 (Q1) there were a total of 18,697 tenancies supported under the scheme. Data in respect of Q2 2019 is currently being compiled by my Department. It is not possible to accurately predict the number of tenancies that will be supported by RAS at the end of 2019 as numbers in RAS vary as contracts end, tenants move on to other properties, landlords join or withdraw from the scheme, new tenancies are allocated or vacancies in contracted units are filled. Furthermore, towards 2021, as the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme continues to be rolled out nationally and replaces Rent Supplement, it is expected that more RAS tenancies will terminate than will commence.
Nevertheless, RAS continues to be an effective and secure form of social housing support, and remains a significant part of the suite of social housing options currently available to those who are assessed as being in need of housing support. I am providing €134.3 million to support the cost of RAS in 2019 and this funding will go towards supporting 600 additional RAS tenancies targeted to be achieved by local authorities in 2019 and the ongoing cost of supporting continuing RAS contracts in place at the beginning of 2019.
|
Local Authority |
Total All RAS Tenancies Q1 2019 |
|
Carlow Co Council |
499 |
|
Cavan Co Council |
562 |
|
Clare Co Council |
373 |
|
Cork City Council |
824 |
|
Cork Co Council |
857 |
|
Donegal Co Council |
547 |
|
Dublin City Council |
1765 |
|
Dublin South Co Council |
1292 |
|
Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Co Council |
528 |
|
Fingal Co Council |
647 |
|
Galway City Council |
421 |
|
Galway Co Council |
324 |
|
Kerry Co Council |
891 |
|
Kildare Co Council |
578 |
|
Kilkenny Co Council |
911 |
|
Laois Co Council |
218 |
|
Leitrim Council |
114 |
|
Limerick City & Co Council |
1145 |
|
Longford Co Council |
207 |
|
Louth Co Council |
120 |
|
Mayo Co Council |
808 |
|
Meath Co Council |
407 |
|
Monaghan Co Council |
215 |
|
Offaly Co Council |
130 |
|
Roscommon Co Council |
404 |
|
Sligo Co Council |
541 |
|
Tipperary Co Council |
1089 |
|
Waterford City & Co Council |
675 |
|
Westmeath Co Council |
584 |
|
Wexford Co Council |
600 |
|
Wicklow Co Council |
421 |
|
Total |
18,697 |
The targets for the HAP and RAS schemes by local authority for 2019 are published on the Rebuilding Ireland website and are available at the following link:
http://rebuildingireland.ie/news/social-housing-targets-2019/.
The information requested in respect of the cost of the HAP and RAS schemes is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
HAP (€m) |
RAS (€m) |
|
2017 |
152.69 |
142.8 |
|
2018 |
276.6 |
143.4 |
|
2019 (Allocated) |
422 |
134.3 |
HAP and RAS continue to be key vehicles in meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme outlined under the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
