Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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23. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the status of the housing assistance payment pilot scheme; if he is satisfied that the scheme has been successful to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38317/15]

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 and the scheme has been rolled out to all categories of households in 15 local authority areas. 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.

The maximum rent limits for different household classes that apply in each local authority where HAP has been commenced are set out in regulations and are generally based on the Rent Supplement limits as set out by the Department of Social Protection (DSP). In prescribing these limits, household size and prevailing rents in the relevant areas are 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.

In recognition of the need for greater flexibility in the challenging Dublin region rental market, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and I recently signed the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment)(No.4) Regulations 2015, which provide for the introduction of HAP in Kildare and Meath County Councils with maximum rent limits equivalent to current Rent Supplement rates applicable in the neighboring Dublin areas. In recognition of the need for additional discretion in areas of high rental demand, and similar to the approach followed in South Dublin County Council, these regulations also provide for an additional 20% flexibility above the maximum HAP rent limits that applyin the administrative areas of Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Galway County Council, Kildare County Council and Meath County Council. This increased flexibility will assist a greater number of qualified households secure suitable accommodation under the scheme.

This approach mirrors the approach already taken by the Department of Social Protection in the operation of the discretion available in the context of the Rent Supplement scheme. My Department is preparing guidance for the relevant local authorities in the appropriate use of this increased flexibility. This matter will be kept under active review in all HAP pilot authority areas.

The Dublin Region Homelessness Executive (DRHE) is also managing a HAP Homeless Pilot for the four Dublin local authorities. The HAP Homeless Pilot became operational on 18 February 2015 and some 60 households have been housed through the pilot scheme to date.Following a review of the effectiveness of the HAP Homeless Pilot, I recently signed regulations that provide that the HAP rent limits applicable in the 4 Dublin local authority areas have the flexibility to exceed existing rent supplement rent limits by up to 50%, where this is necessary to source suitable accommodation for a homeless household that is qualified for social housing support.

The phased roll out of the HAP pilot scheme has proved to be an effective approach. In this context, My Department maintains regular contact with the pilot local authorities in order to learn from their experience of the scheme, and to address operational issues as they arise. This engagement is proving invaluable as the roll out of the scheme progresses.

Budget 2016 has increased the funding for the HAP scheme to €47.7 million in 2016, in order to meet the continuing costs of existing HAP households, and the costs of an additional 10,000 households to be supported by HAP in 2016. I am pleased with the operation of the HAP scheme but will continue to keep its operation under review.