Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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156. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of housing assistance payment, HAP, tenancies currently in operation in each county; the number of those tenancies paying a top up to the landlord; the average of such top up per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6213/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Data relating to the number of households supported by HAP within each local authority area at end of Q4 2016 are available on my Department’s website at the following link: .

Under the HAP scheme, a tenant sources their own accommodation, the tenancy agreement is between the tenant and the landlord and is covered by the Residential Tenancy Act 2004 (as amended). Recognising the pressures in the rental market, the Government increased the maximum rent limits available under the HAP scheme across the country with effect from 1 July 2016. Furthermore, additional flexibility above the existing HAP rent limits was made available to all HAP local authorities from the same date.

My Department is aware that some HAP recipients are making payments directly to their landlords, beyond the amount of HAP being paid on their behalf. While my Department does monitor such trends, the data requested by the Deputy is not available. Ultimately, the level of support made available to individual households is a matter for the local authority concerned. The increased flexibility provided to local authorities offers them, as housing authorities, more capacity to assist households in securing rented accommodation that meets their needs. Since the introduction of the increased HAP rent limits in July 2016 more than 2,500 pre-existing HAP households have received an increase in their level of support.

My Department continues to keep the operation of the scheme under review. In general, I am satisfied with the operation of HAP scheme and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme under the Rebuilding Ireland: Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.