Rent Supplement

To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount spent on rent supplement in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of recipients on rent supplement in each of the years 2011 to 2017 and to date in 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

Rent supplement plays a vital role in housing families and individuals, with the scheme supporting approximately 27,400 recipients for which the Government has provided €180 million for in 2018. 
End of year statistics for rent supplement recipients and expenditure for the years 2011 to 2017 and for the eight months ending August 2018 are provided in the attached tabular statement. 
Rent supplement customer numbers have declined significantly since 2011. The strategic initiative of returning rent supplement to its original purpose, that of a short-term income support, facilitated by the introduction of the HAP scheme has been the main driver in rent supplement’s base decline. Other contributory factors include the continuing improvement in the economy leading to fewer people seeking support due to retaining and securing long-term employment allied with more people exiting rent supplement through activation and securing job opportunities.  
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Tabular Statement:
Rent Supplement:  Recipient Numbers & Expenditure 2011  - 2017 and Eight Months Ending August 2018