Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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575. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on rent supplement in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22332/18]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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576. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of recipients of rent supplement in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22333/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 575 and 576 together.

Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 31,000 recipients for which the Government has provided €180 million for in 2018.

End of year statistics for rent supplement recipients and expenditure for the years 2011 to 2017 and for the four months ending April 2018 are provided in the tabular statement.

Rent supplement customer numbers have declined significantly during the period since 2011. The strategic initiative of returning rent supplement to its original purpose, that of a short-term income support, facilitated by the introduction of the HAP scheme has been the main driver in rent supplement’s base decline. 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 more people exiting rent supplement through activation and securing job opportunities.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Tabular Statement:Rent Supplement: Recipient Numbers & Expenditure 2011 to April 2018