COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, March 12, 2018
MOTION NO.3
MOTION: Councillor D. Looney
That this Council notes its concern with the recent report which showed South Dublin County Council paid out €22.1 million (net) in Housing Assistance Payments in 2017, more than any other local authority in the country. This Council notes that, even if there is no increase in the net HAP paid out over the next 5 years, the amount will be equivalent to the building of almost 600 Council homes.
This Council notes that while HAP is an important emergency intervention to keep people in homes, it is not a long-term solution to the housing crisis in this county, and amounts to the subsidisation of private landlords rather than the provision of social housing. This Council calls on the Chief Executive to liaise with Government to ensure a ramped-up building and purchase programme for social housing in this County and across Ireland.
REPORT:
The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) was first introduced on a pilot basis in Limerick in April 2004. HAP was introduced to replace Rental Supplement (RS) and transfer the function to Local Authorities from Department of Social Protection with full decision on eligibility linked with assessment for Social Housing support. Following the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2014 in July 2014, Phase 1 of HAP commenced in Limerick City and County Council, Waterford City and County Council, Cork County Council, Louth County Council, South Dublin County Council, Monaghan County Council and Kilkenny County Council in September and October 2014.
As South Dublin County Council was the only Dublin Local Authority to be part of this initial phase, the Council the number of processed HAP applications for tenants is high compared to other Housing Authorities.
HAP was rolled out nationally during 2016 and 2017.
As of 29th January 2018, South Dublin County Council has processed 2366 HAP tenancies, and there are currently 2228 open HAP tenancies.
It is the intention of both the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government and the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection that all those currently in receipt of rent supplement will transfer to the HAP scheme. This is currently underway and to date 749 have transferred from rent supplement to HAP. There is approximately another 2950 tenants in this county in private rented accommodation and in receipt of rent supplement who will transfer (if eligible) to the HAP scheme on a phased basis.
The HAP is a form of social housing support for people who have a long term housing need in accommodation that is of the applicants choosing. Those in HAP tenancies in South Dublin County Council are included if they choose, on a HAP Transfer List, which allows them access to the Choice Based Letting system operated by this Council.
The numbers availing of the HAP scheme continues to rise and this form of social housing support is in addition to the comprehensive building programme that this Council is undertaking which will provide additional accommodation to those in need of long term housing.
A HAP scheme for homeless households commenced in the Dublin region (Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, South Dublin County Council and Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council) early in 2015.
There are currently 9 social housing building projects under construction at present with a further 1 project to commence in April 2018. A total of 284 housing units are scheduled to be delivered from May to December 2018 in the housing schemes as listed below. A further 66 units are scheduled to be completed in early 2019.
| Electoral District | Schemes | No. of Units | Status |
| Clondalkin | St Marks Green, Clondalkin | 11 | On Site April 2017 |
| Tallaght | McUilliam (Fortunestown) | 28 | On Site May 2017 |
| Clondalkin | Mayfield Estate | 17 | On Site February 2017 |
| Tallaght | Dromcarra, Tallaght | 14 | On Site May 2017 |
| Tallaght | St. Aidans, Tallaght = Social + TAP | 90 | On Site August 2017 |
| Rathfarnham/Templeogue/Terenure | Killininny, Co Dublin | 24 | On Site January 2018 |
| Clondalkin | St. Cuthberts, Clondalkin | 63 | Final Budget Approval Pending |
| Clondalkin | Letts Field, Neilstown, Clondalkin | 37 | On Site |
| Rathfarnham/Templeogue/Terenure | Ballyboden, Rathfarnham | 40 | On Site October 2017 |
| Tallaght | Killinarden, Tallaght | 26 | On Site October 2017 |
| 350 |
Presentations have been made to the Area Committees on proposed projects which could generate a further 350 units in addition to 109 units under the Kilcarbery PPP and close to 300 units through that Kilcarbery Integrated Social Housing Project.