Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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97. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if the housing assistance payment limit will be raised to an extra €125 per month for a person (details supplied). [8555/16]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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99. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 488 of 20 April 2016, the reason only 19 authorities are rolling out housing assistance payment for all households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8557/16]

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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102. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide a list of the limits for housing assistance payment in each of the local authorities for each different family size; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8560/16]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 99 and 102 together.

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is being rolled out across the country on a phased basis and is currently operational in 19 local authority areas. 7 local authorities were included in the first phase of roll out for the statutory scheme in late 2014, with a further 11 authorities being added in 2015, and the scheme being rolled out to one additional local authority to date in 2016. The phased roll out of the HAP pilot scheme has proved to be an effective approach and 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.

I believe the HAP scheme is operating well, with more than 8,700 households currently in receipt of housing support under the scheme. I am committed to the continued rollout of HAP and in that regard, I expect some 10,000 additional households to be accommodated through HAP in 2016. Plans for the roll out of the scheme to the remaining local authority areas are currently being considered. Until such time as HAP becomes operational in the remaining local authority areas, Rent Supplement will continue to be available to those households requiring support in meeting their housing needs in the rental market.

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. The Department works closely with DSP and monitors data which it gathers, along with PRTB data, and data gathered through HAP pilot authorities, in relation to the rent limits applying.

The current table of maximum monthly rent limits for the Housing Assistance Payment is set out in the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2016. These regulations are available online on the electronic Irish Statute Book website at: .

In recognition of the need for additional discretion in areas of high rental demand, the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment)(No.4) Regulations 2015provide for an additional 20% flexibility above the maximum rent limits that apply for the purposes of HAP in the administrative areas of Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Galway County Council, Kildare County Council and Meath County Council. Levels of support provided under the pilot scheme for Homeless Households, which operates across the four housing authorities in the Dublin Region, were also increased from 20% above to 50% above the current Rent Supplement levels by these regulations. The additional 20% flexibility was also provided to Galway City Council under the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2016when they commenced the scheme in February 2016. This additional flexibility facilitates a greater number of qualifying households to source suitable accommodation in these local authority areas. 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 has provided the relevant local authorities with guidance on the appropriate use of this increased flexibility.

I will continue to keep HAP rent limits under review.