Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)
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521. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of times the discretionary top-up for housing assistance payments was used in 2021 in County Kildare by municipal district; the average percentage amount of this top-up per municipal district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29956/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of 2021, over 100,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were more than 61,900 households actively in receipt of HAP support, including more than 2,300 households in Kildare.

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 at end 2021 and the average discretionary increase paid for each of the municipal districts in Kildare is detailed in the table below.

*Inter-authority movements, whilst the tenant is registered with Kildare County Council, the tenancy is located outside of the county.

I am working with Government colleagues and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to provide for an increase in the HAP discretion rate to 35% and for new tenancies, to expand the couple’s rate to single persons. This will secure and expand more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness.

I am committed to decreasing our reliance on subsidies and we will only do that through significantly scaling up our social housing supply. ‘Housing for all’ sets us on a pathway to delivering 90,000 social homes between now and the end of 2030 including 9,000 this year in 2022.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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522. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if a person who inherits a portion of a house can still qualify for the Rebuilding Ireland home loan and as well as other housing assistance schemes. [30101/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Local Authority Home Loan is a Government backed mortgage for those on modest or low incomes who cannot get sufficient funding from commercial banks to purchase or build a home. It has been available nationwide from local authorities since 4 January 2022 for first-time buyers and fresh start applicants. The loan can be used both for new and second-hand properties, or to self-build. It is the successor to the Rebuilding Ireland Home Loan.

Property ownership through inheritance is disregarded for this scheme i.e. if you own a house (or portion of a house) that you did not purchase then you are still eligible to apply for the Local Authority Home Loan Scheme.

The Help To Buy scheme, which is another housing assistance scheme, is the policy responsibility of the Minister of Finance and his Department can advise on the operation of the scheme in this regard.