Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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157. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of rent supplement recipients by county; the number of persons who have had their rent supplement increased above the prescribed limit for their area in 2016 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35343/16]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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163. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of households in receipt of rent supplement; the total cost to the State per month arising from these payments; and the number of rent supplement claimants who have come off rent supplement and transferred directly into the housing assistance payment since that scheme was introduced. [35403/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 163 together.

Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting some 49,700 recipients for which the Government has provided €267 million for in 2016, approximately €22.3 million per month. A breakdown of rent supplement recipients by county is provided in the following tabular statement.

In recognition of supply difficulties for suitable rentable housing stock being experienced throughout the State, my Department has implemented a targeted policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the limits for both existing customers and new applicants to the rent supplement scheme. This has ensured that over 4,400 rent supplement households have been able to retain or acquire rented accommodation through increased rent supplement payments during 2016. A county breakdown of these payments is provided in the tabular statement.

The number of rent supplement tenancies transferred directly to the new housing assistance payment, HAP, scheme is almost 5,300; approximately 35% of the 14,960 tenancies currently in receipt of HAP. A county breakdown of these cases is provided in the following tabular statement.

In tandem with the revised rental limits introduced in July 2016 and on-going transfers to HAP, my Department will continue to implement a targeted, flexible, case-by-case approach where rents may exceed the appropriate maximum limit ensuring where possible the threat of homelessness for tenants can be avoided.

Table 1: Rent supplement Recipients by County – End October 2016

Table 2: Rent supplement Uplifts Awarded by County for 2016 (to 14 November 2016)

Table 3: HAP cases transferred from Rent Supplement (14 November 2016)