State spends over €2bn on HAP as gap widens between its limits and average rents

In its latest Locked Out of the Market edition published earlier this month, the Simon Communities of Ireland found that there were just 43 properties in the entire country available to rent within the discretionary HAP limits.

The State has spent over €2bn on the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) in the last four years, with the amount being paid per tenancy on the rise.

Under the scheme, where households eligible for social housing can receive support towards their rent to pay a private landlord, over €537m was paid out in the last year, according to new Government figures published this week.