Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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289. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of housing assistance payments, HAP, tenancies per county; the length of time that each HAP tenancy has been in place; the type of dwelling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17519/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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There are currently over 20,000 households being supported by the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in 31 local authority areas. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP, including the number of Rent Supplement Transfers, in each local authority area at 31 December 2016 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: .

A breakdown of households supported by HAP within each local authority area at end of Q1 2017 will be published on my Department’s website shortly.

HAP supported tenancies are agreed between the landlord and the tenant; the local authority is not a party to the tenancy and has no role in its agreement. There is no limitation placed by the scheme on the length of tenancy that can be supported by the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP). However, as with other private rental tenancies, the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended) governs the relationship between landlord and tenant and the length of the tenancy is a matter that must be agreed between the landlord and tenant in that context. My Department does not hold information in relation to the length of individual tenancies or on the type of dwellings sourced by HAP tenants.  A summary of the household classes supported by the HAP scheme at 31 December 2016 is set out below:

- Single/Single Sharing - 32%

- Couple/Couple Sharing - 4%

- Lone Parent with Children - 39%

- Couple with Children - 25%