Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if there are plans to review the housing assistance payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35788/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme continues to plays a vital role in housing eligible families and individuals. At the end of Q4 2024, over 125,000 HAP tenancies had been set up since the scheme commenced, of which there were 53,742 households actively in receipt of HAP support. An average of 156 new HAP tenancies were set up each week in 2024, indicating that the scheme continues to support large numbers of households to secure a home in the private rental market.

Under the 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. Local authorities have a responsibility to ensure that tenancies are sustainable and are advised not to provide HAP support to tenancies where the household would not be in a position to meet the rental costs being sought.

Since 11 July 2022, each local authority has statutory discretion to agree to a HAP payment up to 35% above the prescribed maximum rent limit. Local authorities can also apply a couple rate to a single person household, where required, in recognition of the shared one-bed need. Up to 50% discretion can be provided in the case of homeless households in the Dublin region. It is a matter for the local authority to determine whether, and to what extent, the application of the flexibility is warranted.

My Department has reviewed the use of these measures and their impact on the overall affordability of the HAP scheme for tenants. This review has highlighted that the affordability and sustainability of HAP tenancies continues to be impacted by pressures in the private rental market. I believe a review of HAP limits is now required and I propose to initiate a review of the limits, subject to consultation and the agreement of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

A new Housing Plan is currently being developed and the HAP scheme will be considered in conjunction with all other social housing supports in that context.