Louise O'Reilly
Question:360. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the estimated first year and full year cost of expanding the rent supplement threshold by 5%, 10%, 15% and 20% respectively. [46599/26]
View answerThursday, 18 June 2026
Questions (360)
Written answers
Rent supplement, as it exists today, is a short-term support paid to families and individuals as an initial payment when they first encounter difficulties in meeting rent costs, for example on loss of employment when they apply for a jobseeker payment.
Where longer term support is required, the person transitions on to the Housing Assistance Payment. The rent limits applied on Rent Supplement are aligned with those on Housing Assistance Payment. The Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Scheme, administered by the local authorities, are now by far the largest schemes providing rental supports.
Expenditure for Rent Supplement paid by the Department of Social Protection in 2025 is provisionally estimated at just over €52.2 million. This compares with a 2026 estimate of over €570m for Housing Assistance Payment and the Rental Accommodation Scheme within the vote of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
It is important to note that, my Department operates a flexible policy on a case-by-case basis that allows for higher Rent Supplement payments in certain circumstances. Rent Supplement payments can have wide ranging values and depend on a person’s weekly household income, the cost of rent, family composition and geographical location. On this basis, it is not possible to provide an estimated first year and full year cost of expanding thresholds for Rent Supplement by 5%,10%, 15% and 20%
I understand that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage is currently undertaking a review of existing HAP rent limits. Any changes to the Rent Supplement limits will be considered in the context of the outcome of the Housing Assistance Payment review.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.