Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

514. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number or percentage of HAP recipients' topping up that is being made in payments directly to their landlords beyond the amount of HAP being paid on their behalf; the range and average of top-up payments being made by local authority area; the policy in relation to this situation; the monitoring of it by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51473/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department does not routinely collect data in relation to households in receipt of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) who are making additional payments to their landlord beyond that of their HAP payment. However, I am aware that some HAP recipients are making payments directly to their landlords, beyond the amount of HAP being paid on their behalf. There is no legislative provision precluding HAP supported households contributing towards the monthly rent to their landlord. Local Authorities are advised, however, not to provide HAP support to tenancies where the household would not be in a position to meet the rental costs being sought.

It should be noted that the increased rent limits introduced by the Government last year, together with the additional discretion available to local authorities to exceed the maximum rent limit where necessary, are enabling HAP households to find suitable accommodation and willing landlords.

From available data, at the end of Q3 2017, approximately 20% of the total number of households being supported by HAP were benefitting from the additional flexibility that was provided to local authorities to exceed the maximum rent limits. When the additional discretion available to homeless households in the Dublin Region is removed, 14.4% of households nationally were benefitting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment being used was 14.9% above rent limits provided.

My Department will monitor this data each quarter, taking into consideration other sources of data such as the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) Rent Index and Average Rent Index Reports, which are published on a quarterly basis. The Rent Index Report is compiled by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), and based on the RTB’s own register of tenancies, the Rent Index reveals the actual rents being paid for rented properties.

This data indicates that the current rent limits and the flexibility to exceed those rent limits provide local authorities with sufficient capacity to assist households in securing rented accommodation that meets their needs.

I am satisfied with how the HAP scheme is currently operating and I consider it to be a key vehicle for meeting housing need and fulfilling the ambitious programme under Rebuilding Ireland. My Department will, of course, continue to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review.