Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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188. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount spent on the housing assistance payment in 2017; and the projected amount for 2018 and 2019, respectively. [46062/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is funded through a combination of Exchequer monies and tenant differential rents collected in respect of HAP tenancies. Budget 2019 has increased the Exchequer funding for the HAP scheme to €422 million. This will allow for the continued support of existing HAP households and also enable the additional 16,760 households targeted under Rebuilding Ireland to be supported by HAP in 2019, as well as supporting the roll-out of the Homeless HAP Place Finder Support Service across the country.

The exchequer funding spent in 2017 and the exchequer funding allocated for 2018 and 2019, are set out in the following table.

At the end of Quarter 2, 2018, there were over 37,750 households in receipt of HAP and over 21,000 separate landlords and agents providing accommodation to households supported by the scheme.

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 continue to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review.