Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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15. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government his plans to deal with ongoing problems being experienced by persons trying to access accommodation or remain in existing accommodation under the housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24810/17]

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I want to ask the Minister of State about the ongoing problems experienced by people trying to access accommodation under the HAP scheme. Will he make a statement on the matter?

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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It is recognised the level of supply in some rental markets can make the sourcing of accommodation very challenging, as we saw this week. The pressures in this regard are borne out by the data published recently by daft.ie, showing that rent asking prices rose nationwide by an average 13.4% in the year to March 2017. The report also shows that rent inflation in Dublin has slowed over the last quarter. It is an early indication that the rent predictability measures introduced under the Government's strategy for the rental sector are having the desired effect. The HAP is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. The increased rent limits introduced by the Government in the last year, together with the additional discretion available to local authorities to exceed the maximum rent limit where necessary, are allowing HAP households to find suitable accommodation and willing landlords. On average in 2017, 325 additional tenancies are being supported by HAP each week, with 22,000 households currently having their housing needs met by HAP and some 17,000 separate landlords and agents are in receipt of monthly HAP payments. Particular additional targeted supports are available to homeless households in the Dublin and Cork regions to assist them in finding accommodation in the private rental market, with the support of HAP. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP in each local authority area at the end of March 2017 is available on our website. I am satisfied the HAP scheme is working well, despite the challenging rental market, but we will keep its operation under review.

I will repeat what I said in a discussion here last week with Deputy Broughan.

5 o’clock

While I understand the housing assistance payment does not work for everybody, it provides solutions for many, including in the short term. From June onwards, we will rely heavily on the payment to avoid people having to use commercial hotels. The HAP scheme has achieved considerable success in Dublin where approximately 600 new HAP tenancies have been provided since Christmas. Last year, more than 800 HAP tenancies were provided directly for homeless people.

I accept Deputy Bríd Smith could cite specific cases and I cannot deny that the housing assistance payment does not work for everybody. However, it works in many cases and is generally better than the rent subsidy scheme that preceded it. For example, recipients of the payment can return to work and increase their income without being penalised.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Unfortunately, the time for questions has expired.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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That is not fair.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I am trying to accommodate everybody.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I would not have bothered asking the question if I had known I could not contribute. The Acting Chairman indicated we would take the question.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Yes, I also warned the Deputy to be quick.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I was very quick.

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I was also quick.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Yes, but the time for questions has expired.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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That is grossly unfair. If the Acting Chairman was not going to bother allowing me to speak, he should have said so at the outset.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I was willing to accommodate the Deputy and I note she was not very grateful.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I would-----

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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One should never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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The Acting Chairman is not a gift horse but he is a very bad Chairman.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy is out of order and she is due to speak in----

Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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It was out of order not to let me speak.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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If the Deputy wants to abuse the Chair, that is fine but we are running into another debate in which she is also involved. She should remember that.