Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

472. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of rent supplement tenancies expected in Dublin City Council and Fingal County Council in timeframes (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48010/17]

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

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.

The Deputy may 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 following the nationwide rollout of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme. There are currently over 29,000 HAP tenancies in place of which c. 8,360 (c. 30%) are direct transfers from rent supplement. In addition to the ongoing transfer of long-term rent supplement recipients to HAP, the majority of new applicants seeking State support towards their rent are supported by Local Authorities through HAP rather than rent supplement. The strategic goal as set out in Rebuilding Ireland is to transfer all long-term tenancies from rent supplement to HAP by 2020.

Rent supplement’s forecast recipient base considers inter alia the impact of HAP; on-going transfers of rent supplement tenancies to other social housing options; and the general improvement in the macroeconomic environment. Based on current transfer performance and on-going trends for the scheme, County Dublin’s expected rent supplement decline for 2018 will be in the region of 5,400, a 31% reduction of the current Dublin base of c. 17,000 recipients; the decline expected is approximately 450 per month, 1,350 per quarter. This trend is expected to continue through 2019, though dependent on Local Authorities continuing to provide exit opportunities for long term rent supplement tenancies and economic conditions prevailing. The provision of this information on an individual Local Authority basis is not available.