Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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810. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of households on the housing assistance payment scheme in each local authority; the number of those recorded as topping up rent in each local authority; the range and average amount by which the rent is being topped up by the tenant in direct separate payments to the landlord in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37697/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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At the end of Q2 2018, there were 37,751 active tenancies being supported under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme in 31 local authority areas. A breakdown of the number of households supported by HAP, in each local authority area since the scheme began in 2014 to Q1 2018, is available on my Department’s website at the following link: .

My Department is 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 and my Department does not collect data in relation to households in receipt of HAP, who are making such additional payments to their landlord.

HAP tenants find their own accommodation in the private rented market and are advised that this accommodation should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority. The limits are based on the specific household and the rental market in the area. HAP is a form of social housing support that allows tenants to work full-time and retain their housing support so in many cases, people may make choices about affordability taking this into consideration.

It should be noted that local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and are advised not to provide HAP support to tenancies where the household would not be in a position to meet the rental costs being sought.