Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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19. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government how his Department will cater for the housing assistance payment maximum rent limits for those tenancies commencing in north Kildare from 2 November 2015, as they are not covered under those limits listed in the published regulations, SI No. 246 of 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38218/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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The implementation of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a key Government priority and a major pillar of the Social Housing Strategy 2020. There are now over 4,500 households in receipt of HAP. Kildare and Meath County Councils commenced HAP on 2 November 2015, and Galway, Mayo and Sligo County Councils will commence the scheme from 16 November 2015. While securing accommodation under HAP can be challenging in areas where there is a shortage of supply, the numbers of households securing accommodation nationally under HAP continues to rise.

Regulations prescribe the maximum rent limits that apply in each local authority area where HAP has commenced. The limits are generally based on the rent supplement limits set out by the Department of Social Protection. In prescribing these limits, household size and prevailing rents in the relevant areas are also taken into consideration. My Department works closely with the Department of Social Protection and monitors data which it gathers, along with PRTB data, and data gathered through HAP pilot authorities, in relation to the rent limits applying.

I have recently signed the Housing Assistance Payment (Section 50)(No.3) Regulations 2015introducing HAP in the administrative area of Kildare County Council from 2 November 2015. In recognition of the need for greater flexibility in the challenging Dublin region rental market, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I have also signed the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment)(No.4) Regulations 2015, which provide for the introduction of HAP in Kildare with maximum rent limits equivalent to current Rent Supplement rates applicable in the neighbouring Dublin area. In recognition of the need for additional discretion in areas of high rental demand, and similar to the approach already taken with regard to South Dublin County Council, the Regulations also provide Kildare County Council with an additional 20% flexibility above the maximum HAP rent limits that apply there. I have also provided similar flexibility to Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Galway County Council and Meath County Council in order to further support qualifying households secure suitable accommodation in those administrative areas .

I will continue to keep operational HAP rent limits under review.