John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

2270. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties that persons are having in sourcing private rented accommodation through the HAP scheme in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28613/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Residential Tenancies Board Rent Index for Quarter 1 2017 published on 15 June 2017 indicates that while annual private sector rents continue to trend upwards, growing by 7.37% annually when compared with the same period in 2016, quarter on quarter growth appears to be moderating with an increase of less than 0.1%, down from 2.8% in the previous quarter. This is an early indication that the Rent Predictability Measures introduced under the Government's Strategy for the Rental Sector are having the desired effect. 

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a flexible and immediate housing support that is now available to all eligible households throughout the State. The increased rent limits introduced by the Government in the last year, together with the additional discretion available to local authorities to exceed the maximum rent limit where necessary, are allowing  HAP households to find suitable accommodation and willing landlords. On average in 2017, 330 additional tenancies are being supported by HAP each week, with just over 23,000 households currently having their housing needs met via HAP and some 18,000 separate landlords and agents currently in receipt of monthly HAP payments. Particular additional targeted supports are available to homeless households in the Dublin and Cork City regions to assist them in finding accommodation in the private rental market, with the support of HAP.

Wicklow is an area regularly highlighted as a county where there is pressure in the private rented market, particularly in the Dublin commuter parts of the county. HAP became available in the administrative area of Wicklow County Council on 1 December 2016 and 157 households are currently being supported by the scheme, 43 of which are Rent Supplement transfers. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP in each local authority area at the end of March 2017 is available on my Department’s website at the following link: -

.

I am satisfied that the HAP scheme is generally working well, despite the challenging rental market, but I will keep its operation under on-going review.