Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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1122. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if the HAP can be used to cover student accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59745/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Under HAP, a tenant sources 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.

HAP is a long-term housing support and, as such, HAP tenants are generally expected to remain in the property for a minimum period of 2 years.

Student specific accommodation (SSA) is housing that is used for the sole purpose of providing residential accommodation to students during the academic term. As student specific accommodation does not meet the long term housing need of the tenant it is not considered appropriate to provide HAP to tenancies in student specific accommodation.