Figures released show Louth has highest percentage of HAP tenancies in the state

Figures released on Monday by the Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO) and shared by Labour Cllr Emma Cutlip show that Louth has the highest percentage of HAP properties in the country across all properties with an Eircode.

According to the PBO figures, 5.6% of the properties in Louth with an Eircode are HAP properties. In terms of actual numbers of HAP properties, there are 3,050 in Louth.

The average monthly HAP rent total in Louth is €943.10, with the average monthly HAP state subsidy being €713.60, leaving the tenant with an average monthly HAP contribution of €229.50. 

Commenting on the figures, Cllr Cutlip said that: “I find it shocking that Louth has the highest percentage of HAP tenancies across all 31 local authorities in the country.

"The state is clearly paying considerable amounts of money to house a very large number of people on a temporary basis. The vast majority of these HAP tenancies are households that are on long waiting lists for social housing."

The Louth councillor continued: “5.6% of all Eircode’s are a HAP tenancy in Louth. This is simply unsustainable, and in my view a national scandal brought on from decades of under-provision of social housing and a failure of the Housing for All initiative to deliver.

“With 3,050 HAP tenancies attracting a state subsidy of, on average, €713 per month, the state is likely paying millions of euros every single month to private landlords across the county."

Cllr Cutlip added, “these statistics highlight the need for serious investment by the government in Local Authority owned and administered social and affordable housing to address the needs of people in Louth. Public housing in public ownership is the only way to make every cent of public money count."