Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of rent supplement payments being paid at present. [31921/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Rent supplement continues to play a key role in supporting families and individuals in private rented accommodation, with the scheme currently supporting 18,857 active recipients.

The scheme provides short-term income support to eligible people living in private rented accommodation whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation costs and who do not have accommodation available to them from any other source.  The scheme ensures that those who were renting, but whose circumstances have changed due to temporary loss of employment or income, can continue to meet their rental commitments.

Since the introduction of HAP, Rent Supplement continues to revert to its original role of providing short-term support to those who have become temporarily unemployed and who require income support to meet their tenancy cost whilst they seek alternative employment.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.