Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Many voluntary groups such as the Peter McVerry Trust have welcomed what the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has done in respect of this issue. As the Deputy knows, the HAP is operating in Limerick and is working well there. I understand there are 960 HAP payments in the Limerick area, of which 510 are for new applicants. I would like to ensure that nobody is in danger of becoming homeless but there is flexibility within the rent allowance scheme. The HAP allows for an uplift in respect of that. Significantly, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has given 100% mortgage interest relief to landlords where they commit to accommodating tenants in receipt of the HAP or rent supplement for a minimum period of three years. This will keep a number of units within the process. Of the 960 HAP tenancies in place in Limerick, approximately 450 transferred from rent supplement with the remaining 510 cases being new applicants. In many ways, the HAP is working well in Limerick.

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