THERE ARE CURRENTLY 72,444 people in receipt of rent supplement in Ireland, down from 87,684 in 2012 and 79,788 in 2013.
The Government has provided over €344 million for the payments this year, representing a large drop from 2012.
Most of the recipients live in Dublin (26,978) and Cork (8,351). Leitrim has the least number of people in receipt of the payment (335).
Social Protection Minister Joan Burton revealed the figures recently, in response to a parliamentary question asked by Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen.
The Government is currently in the process of transferring responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need to local authorities under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
Burton said HAP will provide “a more integrated system of housing supports and has been designed to allow any households that find full-time employment to remain in the scheme”.
The Tánaiste added that rent supplement will continue to be paid to those already in the private rented sector who have a short-term need of rental support, often as a result of the loss of employment.
HAP was introduced by Cork County Council, Limerick City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council on 15 September and in South Dublin County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Monaghan County Council and Louth County Council on 1 October.
To date, more than 200 people have been taken onto the HAP scheme, which includes both direct transfers from the rent supplement scheme and new applicants that have being assessed as qualifying for social housing support by the local authority.
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