Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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51. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 308 of 25 January 2022, the total expenditure on homeless Housing Assistance Payments in 2021; and if the expenditure is accounted for in the total Housing Assistance Payment expenditure detailed in the response. [5207/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP and those households must source their own accommodation in the private rental sector. 

Under HAP, households at risk of homelessness may be eligible for additional supports. To qualify for specific additional supports available to homeless households, a household must have been determined by the relevant local authority to be homeless within the meaning of section 2 of the Housing Act 1988. The operation of local homeless services, including the Place Finder service, is a matter for each local authority.

As reported in Parliamentary Question No. 308 of 25 January 2022 the total expenditure by my Department on the HAP scheme in 2021 was €541.7 million. This figure includes a total expenditure on homeless HAP in 2021 of €28.8 million. Homeless HAP expenditure comprises of rent in advance, deposits and associated costs. 

Once a homeless HAP tenancy is set up, the ongoing cost of the tenancy is provided for under the general HAP scheme monthly landlord payments. The costs of homeless HAP tenancies are not differentiated once established.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government when social housing tenants currently living in previously unsold affordable homes will be allowed to purchase those homes under the tenant purchase scheme given that they were promised in writing at the time of taking up their tenancies. [5210/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I have convened a working group to examine the issues relating to unsold affordable properties. The working group is considering inter alia the scope and options for tenants in local authority owned unsold affordable properties to purchase these properties under the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme 2016 or other appropriate mechanism. I expect the group to finalise its work and submit its report and recommendations to me later this year.  

In the meantime, it remains a matter for each local authority to administer the Tenant (Incremental) Purchase Scheme in line with the statutory provisions underpinning the scheme and in a manner appropriate to its housing requirements.