Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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634. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of tenants in each local authority paying a top-up above the prescribed housing assistance payment limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46945/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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My Department is aware that some Housing Assistance Payment (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 applicable are related to 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 any rental costs beyond their differential rent and the HAP payment made to the landlord on their behalf.