Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme, tenants source their own accommodation in the private rented market. The accommodation sourced by tenants should be within the prescribed maximum HAP rent limits, which are based on household size and the rental market within the area concerned.

Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment above the prescribed maximum rent limit in order to secure appropriate accommodation for a household that requires it. In July 2022, this discretion level was increased from 20% to 35% in each local authority area. Up to 50% can be provided in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. It is a matter for the local authority to determine, on a case by case basis, whether, and to what extent, the application of the flexibility is warranted.

At end Q3 2023 the total number of households being supported by HAP in Louth County Council was 3,104 and in Meath County Council the number was 1,805. 56.6% of the total number of households being supported by HAP in Louth County Council were benefiting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretionary payment being used was 21% above the rent limits. In Meath County Council 84% of the total number of households being supported by HAP were benefiting from the additional flexibility. In those cases, the average rate of discretion payment being used was 24% above the rents limits.

My Department continues to keep the operation of the HAP scheme under review and closely monitors the level of discretion being used by local authorities, taking into account other sources of data, including Residential Tenancies Board rent data published on a quarterly basis.