Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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247. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to raise HAP limits in County Kerry to reflect current market conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22119/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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A key principle of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is that eligible households source their own accommodation in the private rented market. HAP rent limits 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. Since July 2022 this discretion level was increased to 35% and for new tenancies to extend the couple’s rate to single persons households. It is a matter for the local authority to determine, whether, and to what extent, the application of the flexibility is warranted.

At the end of Q4 2024, the total number of households being supported by HAP in Kerry County Council was 1,553, and the average level of discretion being used was 26.6%.

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.