Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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252. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of rent supplement tenancies active on 31 December in each of the years since the payment was introduced to 2017, in tabular form; and the annual cost of the scheme for each of these years. [47442/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 36,200 recipients for which the Government has provided €253 million for in 2017.

Statistics on rent supplement recipients since 1999 are provided in the attached tabular statement to date, information for earlier years is not readily available.

Rent supplement is a demand led scheme and recipient numbers have declined significantly in recent years. 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 29,000 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 the matter for the Deputy.

Tabular Statement: Rent Supplement - Recipient Numbers: 1999 to Present

¹As at end October 2017