Cllr Niall Mc Nelis has welcomed the announcement of changes to the HAP scheme but says it is no substitute for building homes.
Following months of campaigning for the revision of the HAP scheme, Cllr Mc Nelis said: “People in Galway are really struggling and renters in particular are experiencing the hard end of the increased cost of living. Rents have soared in Galway city and county over the last five years so the announcement of a change to the HAP scheme is hugely welcome.
“Hard pressed families in Galway city and county will be relieved with the announcement by the Minister for Housing that the HAP scheme will be revised and it is particularly welcome to see attention given to the over 400,000 people who live alone in Ireland. Single people have been particularly impacted by the housing policy failure and this is a welcome break for them.”
The income eligibility scheme needs to be implemented according to Cllr Mc Nelis.
“There are a number of renters in Galway on low incomes who aren’t receiving social supports yet are struggling to keep a roof over their head,” he says. “The Minister must urgently progress the implementation of the income eligibility scheme as laid out in the Housing for All plan and ensure that we revisit the income limits to qualify for social housing.
“While we await the full detail of the proposals from the department on what the actual discretionary limits for renters in Galway will be, we hope that targeted measures like this will help renters caught in the private rental market until more supply comes on stream.
“Government has capacity to do this. The Housing Department’s capital spending is €120 million or 21 per cent below its profile. So while changes to the HAP limits are welcome, it is no substitute for building homes.”
come onto the market, targeted and time limited measures like a rent freeze must be considered by Government to protect all renters.”
