Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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664. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of tenancies supported by rent assistance or other such supports since 2014; the projected and-or forecasted number of tenancies supported by rent assistance or other such supports in 2019 and 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43886/18]

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 26,500 recipients for which the Government has provided €180 million for in 2018.

Details of the number of rent supplement recipients for the years 2014 to 2017 and for the nine months ending September 2018 are provided in the attached tabular statement. Figures for 2019 forecast year end recipient numbers are also provided. The 2019 figure is predicated on current trends associated with Housing Assistance Payment Scheme (HAP) and the underpinning macro-economic conditions prevailing throughout next year. Given the numerous variables associated with HAP transfer and the wider macro-economic environment forecast figures for 2020 are not available at this time.

The “Rebuilding Ireland - Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness (July 2016), reiterated in the “Housing First National Implementation Plan 2018-2021” (September 2018) is to provide 87,000 flexible housing supports through the HAP and Rental Accommodation Scheme between 2016 and 2021. As part of this commitment will be the transfer of those out of rent supplement with long term housing needs to HAP with a targeted completion date of these transfers by the end of 2020. The strategic goal of returning rent supplement to its original purpose that of a short-term income support has been primarily facilitated by the introduction of the HAP.