Niamh Smyth
Ceist:125. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of tenants that were housed in counties Cavan and Monaghan under the housing assistance payment scheme. [3583/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 26 January 2023
Ceisteanna (125, 172)
Niamh Smyth
Ceist:172. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if the means of housing assistance payment can be increased to match increases in rent and cost-of-living in counties Cavan and Monaghan. [3584/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 and 172 together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q3 2022, over 106,700 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 59,600 households actively in receipt of HAP support.
Under Housing for All, my Department was tasked with undertaking an analytical exercise to examine whether the level of discretion available to Local Authorities under HAP was adequate. The Housing Agency carried out this analytical exercise, on behalf of my Department, to better understand what level of discretion should be made available to Local Authorities under HAP to maintain adequate levels of support.
Following receipt and analysis of this review, I, in cooperation with Government colleagues and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, approved an increase in the HAP discretion rate from 20% to 35% and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single person households. This will secure more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness. Both these measures came into effect from 11 July 2022.
A separate review of the discretion available to Homeless HAP tenancies in Dublin, which is up to 50% above the prescribed maximum rent limits, is currently being undertaken by my Department, in conjunction with the Housing Agency.
Data in relation to HAP tenancies in Cavan and Monaghan is set out in the table below:
|
Local Authority |
No. of tenancies set up in 2022 to end Q3 2022 |
Total active HAP tenancies at end Q3 2022 |
No. of tenancies set up since commencement of HAP scheme |
|
Cavan |
65 |
408 |
826 |
|
Monaghan |
71 |
547 |
1356 |
My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review.