Written answers

Tuesday, 10 December 2019

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Rent Supplement Scheme Data

Photo of Martin HeydonMartin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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636. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of rent allowance in County Kildare in each of the years 2007 to 2018 and to date in 2019, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51716/19]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Rent supplement continues its vital role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme supporting approximately 17,200 recipients for which the Government has provided €132.4 million for 2019.

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 Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).

Since the introduction of HAP on the 2nd November 2015 for the County, rent supplement recipients in Kildare have fallen from 3,400 to approximately 820, as at end of November 2019. The identification of recipients for the County with long term social housing needs for transfer to HAP remains a key goal for the Department.

In recognition of the on-going rental market difficulties, the Department continues to implement a targeted case-by-case flexible payment policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the rent limits. To date, in excess of 14,260 cases have been provided additional flexible payment arrangements, having received support in excess of the prevailing rent limits.

Rent supplement recipient statistics in County Kildare for the period 2007 to 2018 and to end November 2019 are provided in the attached tabular statement.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Table: Rent Supplement Recipients for County Kildare 2007 to End November 2019.

Year No. of Recipients
2007 2,675
2008 3,275
2009 4,161
2010 4,409
2011 4,447
2012 4,338
2013 4,135
2014 3,698
2015 3,396
2016 2,579
2017 1,874
2018 1,143
2019 (End of November) 823

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