Eoin Hayes
Ceist:697. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of recipients of rent supplement, by band and the amount received by each recipient, in tabular form. [5843/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 27 January 2026
Ceisteanna (697, 698)
Eoin Hayes
Ceist:698. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of rent supplement payments made to applicants who pay rent above the rent limited for their county of residence but have been granted the rent supplement on discretionary grounds; the percentage of these payments which comprise of total rent payments; the average amount by which their monthly rents exceed the limit; the duration for which payments are made, by county, in tabular form. [5844/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 697 and 698 together.
Rent Supplement is a short-term support paid to families and individuals living in private rented accommodation, as a support 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 the Housing Assistance Payment.
Rent Supplement limits are reflective of geographical area and household family compositions. While there are maximum rent limits in place, in recognition of the on-going rental market difficulties, the Department continues to implement a targeted case-by-case flexible payment policy approach that allows for flexibility where landlords seek rents in excess of the rent limits. There is discretion available to ensure short-term private rental accommodation needs are met.
At the end of December 2025, there were 5,706 Rent Supplement claims in payment. Table 1 shows the number of awarded Rent Supplement claims by monthly payment bands. It is not practical to provide the individual payment amount for each Rent Supplement recipient.
Table 2 shows the number of Rent Supplement claims awarded above the maximum rent limits and the percentage these comprise of the total number of claims by county at the end of December 2025.
As maximum rent limits vary by geographical area and household family composition, it is not possible to provide the average amount by which monthly rents charged exceed the rent limits.
Table 3 shows the duration of Rent Supplement claims that are paid above the maximum rent limits at the end of December 2025.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1 – Rent Supplement claims awarded by monthly payment amount at the end of December 2025
|
Monthly Payment |
No. of Claims Awarded |
|
> €1,000 |
4,448 |
|
> €2,000 |
1,196 |
|
> €3,000 |
62 |
|
Total |
5,706 |
Table 2 - Number of Rent Supplement claims awarded above the maximum rent limits and the percentage these comprise of the total number of claims by county at the end of December 2025
|
County |
No. claims awarded above the Rent Limit |
Percentage of awarded claims where the Rent Supplement paid exceeds the Rent Limit |
|
Carlow |
19 |
28% |
|
Cavan |
31 |
37% |
|
Clare |
24 |
48% |
|
Cork |
147 |
19% |
|
Donegal |
35 |
56% |
|
Dublin |
500 |
19% |
|
Galway |
39 |
20% |
|
Kerry |
65 |
29% |
|
Kildare |
54 |
27% |
|
Kilkenny |
18 |
50% |
|
Laois |
18 |
56% |
|
Leitrim |
13 |
41% |
|
Limerick |
38 |
30% |
|
Longford |
40 |
51% |
|
Louth |
44 |
56% |
|
Mayo |
39 |
35% |
|
Meath |
53 |
46% |
|
Monaghan |
20 |
31% |
|
Offaly |
16 |
37% |
|
Roscommon |
27 |
53% |
|
Sligo |
17 |
30% |
|
Tipperary |
34 |
40% |
|
Waterford |
19 |
53% |
|
Westmeath |
20 |
18% |
|
Wexford |
56 |
35% |
|
Wicklow |
72 |
32% |
|
Total |
1,458 |
|
Table 3 - Rent Supplement claims awarded above the maximum rent limits by claim duration, broken down by county, at the end December 2025
|
County |
0 - 12 Months |
13 - 18 Months |
>18 Months |
Total |
|
Carlow |
7 |
4 |
8 |
19 |
|
Cavan |
11 |
3 |
17 |
31 |
|
Clare |
17 |
1 |
6 |
24 |
|
Cork |
87 |
18 |
42 |
147 |
|
Donegal |
23 |
5 |
7 |
35 |
|
Dublin |
216 |
65 |
219 |
500 |
|
Galway |
16 |
10 |
13 |
39 |
|
Kerry |
35 |
9 |
21 |
65 |
|
Kildare |
23 |
6 |
25 |
54 |
|
Kilkenny |
10 |
1 |
7 |
18 |
|
Laois |
6 |
9 |
3 |
18 |
|
Leitrim |
5 |
5 |
3 |
13 |
|
Limerick |
20 |
3 |
15 |
38 |
|
Longford |
23 |
8 |
9 |
40 |
|
Louth |
24 |
7 |
13 |
44 |
|
Mayo |
21 |
5 |
13 |
39 |
|
Meath |
26 |
9 |
18 |
53 |
|
Monaghan |
9 |
4 |
7 |
20 |
|
Offaly |
8 |
4 |
4 |
16 |
|
Roscommon |
17 |
3 |
7 |
27 |
|
Sligo |
11 |
3 |
3 |
17 |
|
Tipperary |
17 |
6 |
11 |
34 |
|
Waterford |
12 |
3 |
4 |
19 |
|
Westmeath |
8 |
5 |
7 |
20 |
|
Wexford |
27 |
7 |
22 |
56 |
|
Wicklow |
24 |
8 |
40 |
72 |
|
Total |
703 |
211 |
544 |
1,458 |
Question No. 698 answered with Question No. 697.