Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

The HAP scheme continues to play a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of quarter 2, 2025, over 128,500 HAP tenancies had been set up since the scheme commenced, of which 51,736 households were actively in receipt of HAP support. Under HAP,a tenant sources their own accommodation in the private rental market. This accommodation should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned. Where a tenant’s circumstances change, including their household size, they should notify the relevant local authority. The local authority can then review the household circumstances, including in relation to differential rent charged and the relevant HAP rate to apply. Since 11 July 2022, each local authority has had statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. Additional flexibility was also given for local authorities to apply a couple HAP rate to single person households. Recognising that newer tenancies are at a higher cost than existing tenancies, the measure only applied to new tenancies. It is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of discretion is warranted on a case-by-case basis and the level of discretion applied in each case. Local authorities are encouraged to focus the application of discretion on alleviating financial burden for HAP tenants wherever possible, particularly for those in difficult financial circumstances. I have recently approved a review of existing HAP rent limits to ensure there is sufficient support under the HAP scheme to assist eligible households in accessing accommodation in the private rental sector. My Department is currently finalising the parameters of this review. The Deputy Boyd Barrett might elaborate on the specific circumstances he was talking about.

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