Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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202. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons at the end of each month that were in receipt of rent supplement in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40903/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The rent supplement scheme plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting approximately 38,600 tenants for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017.

Details of rent supplement recipients under the scheme in respect of the period from January 2014 to August 2017 are provided in the table.

Rent supplement customer numbers have declined significantly during the period from January, 2014 (c.78,690) to August, 2017 (c. 38,600). Rent supplement is demand led and the strategic initiative of returning the scheme to its original purpose that of a short-term income support, facilitated by the introduction of HAP has been the main driver in rent supplement’s base decline. There are currently over 27,240 tenants in receipt of HAP support. Other contributory factors include the continuing improvement in the economy leading to fewer people seeking support due to retaining and securing long-term employment allied with people exiting rent supplement through activation and securing job opportunities. The strategic goal as set out in Rebuilding Ireland is to transfer all long-term tenancies from rent supplement to HAP by 2020.

I trust this clarifies matter for the Deputy.

Rent Supplement: Recipient Numbers from January 2014 to August, 2017