Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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227. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of first, second and third time HAP, housing assistance payment, tenancies set up each year since the scheme was introduced in tabular form; the number of first HAP tenancies still in place; and the average tenancy length to date of HAP tenancies. [17035/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The details on Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) tenancies you have requested are not collated by my Department.

Since commencement of the HAP scheme in September 2014, over 22,340 HAP tenancies have been set-up, which includes 2,370 tenancies which subsequently closed. HAP is currently being paid in respect of some 19,970 separate households across all 31 local authority areas.

HAP is a demand-led scheme and households may exit the scheme for a variety of reasons, including accessing other forms of social housing support. At the end of December 2016, 240 households had exited the scheme to avail of other forms of social housing support.

I am satisfied with how the HAP scheme is operating and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme committed to under Rebuilding Ireland.