Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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440. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if he will direct local authorities to source available accommodation for HAP tenancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19378/17]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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489. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the circumstances in which HAP payments over the agreed limits are made to landlords; the amounts over the agreed limits; the number of such payments in 2016 and to date in 2017 by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20303/17]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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490. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of HAP tenancies ended by the landlord before the agreed ten-year period in 2016 and to date in 2017 by county; the reason for such terminations; the subsequent housing arrangements made for those tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20304/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 440, 489 and 490 together.

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. There are currently more than 20,700 households in receipt of HAP, including 7,000 households that were previously supported by Rent Supplement.

One of the key principles of the HAP scheme is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented sector, which best suits their needs in their area of choice, as provided for under the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014. This is distinct from other forms of social housing support, where the tenant may not always find their own accommodation and instead are allocated a dwelling. Under the Homeless HAP scheme, which is operated by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive on behalf of the 4 Dublin local authorities, a place finder service has been provided to assist homeless households with sourcing HAP accommodation. A similar service will be available to homeless households in the Cork City Council area from 8 May 2017. Given that to date in 2017, an average of almost 350 additional households a week are being supported by HAP, I consider the practice of households sourcing their own accommodation under the scheme to be an effective approach to providing housing support, as it gives households choice.

There is no limitation on the length of a tenancy that can be supported by the HAP scheme. 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. However, as with other private rental tenancies, the Residential Tenancies Act 2004 (as amended) governs the relationship between the landlord and the tenant. The length of the tenancy is a matter that must be agreed between the landlord and tenant. My Department does not hold information in relation to the length of individual tenancies.

Where a HAP supported tenancy comes to an end, the tenant can find alternative accommodation and retain their eligibility for HAP support or the local authority may decide to offer another form of social housing support to the tenant in accordance with their scheme of letting priorities.

Since 1 July 2016, all local authorities have been provided with a statutory discretion to exceed HAP rent limits by up to 20% above the prescribed maximum rent limit in circumstances where it is necessary, because of local rental market conditions, to secure appropriate accommodation for a household that requires it. It is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of the flexibility is warranted on a case by case basis. At the end of Q1 2017, 9.5% of the total number of households (excluding qualified homeless households) being supported by HAP had some additional flexibility applied to the monthly HAP payment being made to their landlord on their behalf.

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