Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1288. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of rent support by county and local authority area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47121/17]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1289. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the extent to which current rent supports are available and adequate to meet the housing needs of those in danger of becoming homeless under various circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47122/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1288 and 1289 together.

Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme currently supporting some 36,200 recipients at a cost of €253 million in 2017. A county breakdown of rent supplements recipients is provided in the tabular statement. A breakdown by local authority is not available.

In recognition of the on-going rental market difficulties, my Department continues to implement a targeted case-by-case policy approach in the administration of rent supplement that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the rent limits. In addition, the Protocol arrangement in place with Threshold continues to operate in the areas where supply issues are particularly acute covering Dublin, Cork, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow and Galway City. To date in 2017, in excess of 1,500 rent supplement recipients have been supported with increased rent payments ensuring that they can continue to retain their homes.

As the Deputy will be aware the strategic policy direction of the Department is to return rent supplement to its original purpose of being a short-term income support, with the introduction of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, available nationwide from 1 March 2017. There are currently over 29,000 HAP tenancies in place of which c 8,500 (c.30%) are transfers from rent supplement. In addition to the ongoing transfer of long-term rent supplement recipients to HAP, new applicants who have been assessed as having a social housing need are being supported by Local Authorities through HAP rather than rent supplement.

Officials in my Department continue to work closely with the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and local authorities to facilitate the ongoing transfer of cases from rent supplement to HAP.

I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.

Rent supplement recipients by County at End October, 2017