Written answers
Tuesday, 12 July 2022
Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government
Departmental Data
Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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454. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of times that the discretionary top-up for housing assistance payments was used in 2021 as at the end of the fourth quarter, 2021 and to date in 2022 in County Wexford by municipal district; the average percentage amount of this top-up per district; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37955/22]
Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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455. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of persons from each municipal district in County Wexford who are currently in receipt of a HAP payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37956/22]
Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 455 together.
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q4 2021, over 100,000 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were nearly 62,000 households actively in receipt of HAP support.
At the end of Q1 2022, over 102,500 HAP tenancies had been set-up since the scheme commenced, of which there were nearly 61,500 households actively in receipt of HAP support, including 1,495 households in Wexford.
Local authorities have had 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.
I have now introduced an increase in the HAP discretion rate to 35% and for new tenancies, expanded the couple’s rate to single persons. This will secure more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness.
I have signed the Housing Assistance Payment (Amendment) Regulations 2022 (S.I. No. 342 of 2022) providing for these changes, which took effect from Monday, 11 July 2022.
A breakdown of the number of HAP tenancies at end Q4 2021 and Q1 2022 with the average discretionary increase paid for each of the municipal districts in Wexford is detailed in the table below:-
Wexford Q4 2021 Discretion Rate
| Municipal Area | Active Tenancies @ end Q4 2021 | No. of tenancies that received discretion | Average Discretion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enniscorthy | 314 | 146 | 17% |
| Gorey/Kilmuckridge | 338 | 231 | 21% |
| New Ross | 294 | 149 | 17% |
| Rosslare | 100 | 52 | 18% |
| Wexford Borough | 422 | 263 | 20% |
| Other* | 53 | 26 | 19% |
Wexford Q1 2022 Discretion Rate
| Municipal Area | Active Tenancies @ end Q1 2022 | No. of tenancies that received discretion | Average Discretion Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enniscorthy | 319 | 162 | 18% |
| Gorey/Kilmuckridge | 326 | 228 | 21% |
| New Ross | 298 | 152 | 17% |
| Rosslare | 102 | 53 | 18% |
| Wexford Borough | 399 | 260 | 20% |
| Other* | 51 | 25 | 19% |
*Inter-authority movements, whilst the tenant is registered with Wexford County Council, the tenancy is located outside of the county.
Section 43 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014, gives the Minister the power to determine the appropriate amount of rent for qualified households, where the household class is not already prescribed for in the HAP regulations. This is mainly used for larger families. The figure for Gorey/ Kilmuckridge municipal district is above the 20% discretion available to local authorities, as there was a number of Section 43 determinations included in the calculation.
I am committed to decreasing our reliance on the HAP scheme 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.
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