Sinéad Gibney (Dublin Rathdown, Social Democrats)
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43. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the measures his Department is taking to address the crisis of those who qualify for social housing and HAP being unable to get a social home or find a tenancy on the private market which they can afford, even with the assistance of HAP, in areas of the country where rents are above the national average, such as Dublin Rathdown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35849/25]

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 was 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 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 record level of capital investment is being provided for the delivery of Housing in 2025, with overall capital funding available of almost €6.8 billion. The capital provision is supplemented by a further €1.65 billion in current funding to address housing need. A key focus of this capital investment is on the delivery of social homes, with almost €2.4 billion in Exchequer funding available to support social housing delivery in 2025, including 10,000 new build social homes.

Last year, Government approved new national housing targets up to the year 2030. The aim is to deliver 303,000 homes in the period from 2025 to 2030, equating to an annual average of 50,500 homes, building up to 60,000 in 2030. The revised national housing targets will inform the revision to existing social and affordable housing targets at a local authority level. Work is ongoing in this regard.

During 2024, 10,595 new social homes were delivered, including 7,871 new-build homes, 1,501 acquisitions and 1,223 homes delivered through leasing programmes. When the Housing Assistance Payment (8,121) and Rental Accommodation Scheme (1,576) are added a total of 20,292 housing supports were delivered during the year.

By the end of 2024, over 25,700 HAP tenants had exited the HAP scheme to other forms of social housing which demonstrates that HAP is providing an important pathway to more permanent forms of social housing for tenants.