John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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2027. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of persons in each local authority in receipt of HAP; the number in receipt of an enhanced HAP or top-up payment, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38205/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, a tenant sources their own accommodation, the tenancy agreement is between the tenant and the landlord and is governed by the Residential Tenancy Act 2004 (as amended). The Government increased the maximum rent limits available under the HAP and Rent Supplement schemes across the country with effect from 1 July 2016. Furthermore, additional flexibility above the existing HAP rent limits was made available to all HAP local authorities from the same date.

Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment 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.

From data that is available, at the end of Q2 2017, 17.8% of the total number of households being supported by HAP were benefiting from the additional flexibility that was provided to local authorities to exceed the maximum rent limits.  When the additional discretion available to homeless households in the Dublin Region is removed, 12.6% of households nationally were benefiting from the additional flexibility that was provided to local authorities to exceed the maximum rent limits. The following table identifies the number of households being supported by HAP where additional flexibility was utilised by local authority area.

**Tenancy numbers reflected above show all HAP tenancies set up at end Q.2 2017 where the rent was agreed. A further 607 HAP tenancies were set up at this point, but were awaiting final rent agreement.

More than 26,000 households are currently in receipt of HAP support. A breakdown by the number of households supported by HAP, including the number of Rent Supplement transfers in each local authority area for 2016 and for Q2 2017, is available on my Department's website at the following link: 

ht. 

My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review. 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 under Rebuilding Ireland.