An Aontú councillor on Meath County Council has called on the Government to raise the limits on Housing Assistance Payments (HAP). Dave Boyne tabled a motion at a council meeting asking for a review of by the Minister for Housing on the adequacy of current HAP payments for single applicants, specifically in relation to the actual market cost of renting a single room in shared accommodation.
The councillor said that everyone was feeling the pressure in the current economic climate and the HAP assistance limits needed to be raised. What might have been considered adequate a few years ago was no longer adequate, he said. Independent Cllr Noel French who seconded the motion said that HAP payments for Co Meath were “too low”.
“We are suffering here because of our proximity to Dublin and the Hap payments in Dublin are higher. We still have high prices for rental”.
Officials said that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage was currently undertaking a review of existing HAP rent limits to ensure there was sufficient support under the HAP scheme to assist eligible households in accessing accommodation in the private rental sector. The review is expected to conclude before the end of quarter two this year.
