Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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106. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if and when he will increase the rent caps under the housing assistance payment scheme in Galway city and county; if so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12304/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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. I believe the HAP scheme is operating well, with more than 9,5 00 households currently in receipt of housing support under the scheme.

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 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.

In recognition of the need for additional discretion in areas of high rental demand, an additional 20% flexibility above the maximum rent limits that apply for the purposes of HAP has been provided in the administrative areas of Galway County Council and Galway City Council since the introduction of the scheme in those areas. This additional flexibility facilitates a greater number of qualifying households to source suitable accommodation in these local authority areas. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to extending the capacity of Local Authorities to make such discretionary payments, while providing a framework for the review of both Rent Supplement and Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) limits taking account of geographic variations in market rents. My Department is working closely with the Department of Social Protection to ensure that any revised rent limits will be introduced as early as possible, subject to agreement by Government.