John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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218. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of times the discretionary top-up for HAP payments was used in 2020 in County Wicklow by municipal district; the average percentage amount of this top-up per district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34416/21]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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220. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of persons from each municipal district in County Wicklow that are currently in receipt of a HAP payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34418/21]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 and 220 together.

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of 2020, over 86,900 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were nearly 60,000 households actively in receipt of HAP support, including 1,668 households in Wicklow.

Local authorities have discretion, because of local rental market conditions, to exceed the maximum rent limit by up to 20%, or up to 50% in the Dublin region for those households either in, or at immediate risk of homelessness. It is a matter for each local authority to determine whether the application of a discretionary increase is warranted, and the level of such an increase, on a case-by-case basis.

A breakdown of the number of HAP tenancies in 2020 and the average discretionary increase paid for each of the municipal districts in Wicklow is detailed in the table below.

*inter-authority movements, whilst the tenant is registered with Wicklow, the tenancy is outside of the county.