Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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49. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of recipients of the housing assistance payment, HAP, who are 18 to 24 years of age by county, in 2016 and to date in 2017; the steps he is taking with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs to address recent reports of a 78% increase in homelessness in the 18 to 24 year old age group since 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24798/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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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 22,000 households in receipt of HAP, including 7,000 households that were previously supported by Rent Supplement. There are currently more than 17,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the HAP scheme. Approximately 315 to 350 new households are being supported by HAP each week.

My Department does not hold information on the age demographic of HAP recipients. However, a summary of the household classes supported by the HAP scheme at 31 March 2017 is set out below:

- Single / Single Sharing - 31%

- Couple / Couple Sharing - 4%

- Lone Parent with Children - 39%

- Couple with Children - 26%

The Homeless Pilot of the HAP scheme has been operational since February 2015, across the four housing authorities in the Dublin Region, and is being implemented through the Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE). The focus of this pilot remains the transitioning of qualified households from emergency accommodation, including hotels, into private rented tenancies. To qualify for HAP under the homeless pilot scheme, a household must generally be accepted as homeless within the meaning of section 2 of the Housing Act 1988 by one of the four Dublin local authorities. The Homeless HAP support has also been used to prevent households from entering homelessness and homeless services.

While eligible homeless households may source accommodation for themselves, a dedicated placement team, the Dublin Place-Finder Service, has also been established to engage directly with property owners and support qualified households to find suitable tenancies and to ensure that any additional supports that may be needed are put in place. This is a particularly important service for households currently residing in emergency accommodation in the Dublin region.

The implementation of the Rebuilding Ireland Action Plan on Housing and Homelessness is being advanced across a number of Departments and agencies, including the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, under the oversight of the Cabinet Committee on Housing, chaired by An Taoiseach. The long-term solution to the current homelessness issue is to increase the supply of homes. Accordingly, Rebuilding Ireland is designed to accelerate all types of housing supply – social, private and rental. During the lifetime of the Plan some 47,000 new social houses will be provided, supported by Exchequer investment of over €5 billion, and housing output generally will be progressively increased towards the target of producing 25,000 houses per year through all channels.

It is intended that housing needs of those currently homeless, including young people, will be met through housing supports such as HAP, the homeless HAP scheme, and general social housing allocations. Significant outputs are being achieved in this regard, with over 3,000 sustainable exits from homeless accommodation into independent tenancies delivered during 2016, a record level of exits in a calendar year. This includes more than 800 homeless households supported by HAP during 2016. A target of 1,200 additional households to be supported through the Homeless HAP pilot scheme has been set for 2017, and more than 600 such households have already been supported by the scheme this year.

My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review. In general, I am satisfied with its operation and I consider HAP to be a key support in providing sustainable exits from homeless accommodation, meeting housing need and contributing to the delivery on the ambitious programme outlined in Rebuilding Ireland.