The State's scheme to subsidise rental payments for private landlords of social houses has cost the taxpayer €142 million in the past year.
The scheme was backed by the government to help tackle the ongoing housing crisis, and the amount of money pumped into the housing assistance payment measure has almost trebled since 2016.
The private rental market has become a major tool in the government's plan to tackle the current crisis, and Kildare has been one of the counties in which the biggest amount of money has been pumped into the scheme. In total, there was €9.2 million spent by Kildare County Council on subsidising housing assistance payments to private landlords in 2017. That figure was only topped by councils in South Dublin (€22.1 million), South Dublin (€21.8 million), Cork (€12.5 million) and Louth (€9.7 million).
According to figures in today's Irish Times, the total amount paid to private landlords in 2017 was €193 million, with €51 million being recouped by local authorities through rental payments.
There were just more than 32,000 active HAP tenancies at the start of this week, though that figure is expected to rise to more than 80,000 by 2021 as the government continue their rebuilding strategy.
Mike Allen, director of advocacy at homeless charity Focus Ireland, said that the government have become reliant on the private rental sector.
“The Government presents these figures often in a celebratory way as if it was an intended social housing policy,” he said.
“If it was to acknowledge the fact that this is the legacy of the mistakes of the past and things that we need to removing way from, it would give confidence about where we are going.”
If you have a story or want to send photos or videos to us please contact the KildareNow editorial team. via our Facebook, via our email at content@kildarenow.com or on 045 409350 during office hours.