John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

463. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of homeless HAP applications received in 2024 and to date in 2025, broken down by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6212/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a form of social housing support available for people who have a long-term housing need. Any household assessed as eligible for social housing is immediately eligible for HAP. Eligible households can source their own accommodation in the private rental sector which should be within the HAP rent limits provided to them by the local authority.

Each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit to secure appropriate accommodation for a household that requires it, or up to 50% in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. It should be noted that it is a matter for the local authority to determine if the application of the discretion is warranted on a case by case basis and also the level of additional discretion applied in each case.

Additional supports are available under HAP for homeless households or households at risk of homelessness nationwide. While eligible households or individuals may source accommodation for themselves under the Homeless HAP scheme, a dedicated resource, the Place Finder Service, has been established nationwide to provide assistance.

The Place Finder service assists households in or at immediate risk of homelessness primarily by providing access to deposits and advance rental payments. These elements are the core financial supports and are available to prospective tenants in all local authority areas. 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. Data in relation to the number of new Homeless HAP tenancies set-up in 2024 is set out below. Data for 2025 will be available in due course.

Table: Homeless HAP Unit Set-ups in 2024

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

464. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the length of time it is taking for homeless HAP applications to be processed from the date the application is received until the application is put into payment, broken down by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6213/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Homeless HAP is an adjunct to the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme rather than a separate scheme in itself. It comprises additional financial supports and access to the Place Finder service. The administration of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme is a matter for the relevant local authority and HAP application processing times may vary across local authorities.

Once a HAP application has been received and confirmed as valid by the relevant local authority, it is entered on the system by the local authority and then submitted for processing and payment by the HAP Shared Service Centre (HAP SSC). Payments are made to landlords on the last Wednesday of each month.

If there are delays at the processing stage within a local authority, payment to the landlord will be backdated to the date on which a complete and valid application form was received by the local authority. The landlord is therefore not penalised for any delay. The average HAP processing time at end 2024 was 30 days, this compares to an average of 35 days at end 2023.

Since 1 March 2024, tenants and landlords can apply for HAP via an online portal www.hap.ie/apply/. This online application form will provide efficiencies for tenants, landlords and local authorities.

My Department and local authorities are aware of the importance of minimising HAP processing times and the critical need to keep this under review at a local level.