Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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212. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of persons at the end of each month that were in receipt of the housing assistance payment in each of the years 2014 to 2016, and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40904/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, 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 27,000 households in receipt of HAP and more than 20,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the HAP scheme.

In relation to the number of persons at the end of each month that were in receipt of HAP in each of the years since the scheme commenced, my Department does not collate this data.

It should be borne in mind that the HAP scheme was implemented on a statutory phased pilot basis with an initial 7 local authorities operating the scheme for four months in 2014, an additional 11 in 2015, a further 10 in 2016 and HAP became a national scheme with its extension to the 3 remaining local authorities in the Dublin Region on 1 March 2017. At the end of 2014, 485 eligible households were supported by the scheme and an additional 5,680 eligible households were supported in 2015.  Further details can be found at the following weblink: .

Since 2016, my Department publishes a breakdown of the additional households supported by HAP by each local authority every quarter. This breakdown, which also includes the number of Rent Supplement transfers and new applicants, is available on my Department's website at the following weblink: .

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