Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the work done in increasing the discretionary HAP - but that is only in the instances where there is risk of homelessness, or in the case of homelessness - and the extension of the couples rate to single people. This, however, is not enough, especially for those on the lowest incomes. There are 2,831 families on the Clare County Council housing list now, but there are also 1,186 HAP tenancies. I welcome that the council is currently working on adding additional social housing of 290 units across the county, but again it is just not enough. The most recent daft.iereport places average rents in Clare at an astronomical €1,239 per month. This is an increase of 11.7% on last year. The most recent snapshot from the Simon Community points to an 11.2% decrease of availability of properties under HAP.There is no denying that there is a need to bring the HAP rates into line with market rents in an indexed way.

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