There were just 41 properties available to rent within the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme across 16 areas, according to a new report from the Simon Communities of Ireland. The data, from March, shows a decrease of 11 per cent in available properties to rent under the Government scheme since December.
The report found 1,119 properties were available to rent at any price within the 16 areas surveyed over the three dates surveyed (March 2025) – a 9 per cent reduction from the 1,123 properties available before Christmas.
There were no properties available at all in 10 of the 16 areas – Athlone, Cork City Centre, Cork City Suburbs, Galway City Centre, Co. Leitrim, Limerick City Suburbs, Limerick City Centre, Sligo Town, Portlaoise, and Waterford City Centre.
The homeless organisation highlighted that the majority of properties available through HAP are in Dublin – with 31 out of 41 properties located in the capital.
Just three of the 13 study areas outside of Dublin had properties available to rent within HAP limits. These included Dundalk (three properties), Galway City Suburbs (one property), and Kildare (five properties).
The lowest number of HAP properties were in Sligo Town and Portlaoise, with just five and two properties available in each area. Athlone, Dublin City North, Dublin City Centre, Dundalk, Galway City Centre, Kildare, Dundalk, Co Leitrim, Limerick City Suburbs, Limerick City Centre, Portlaoise and Waterford all saw a fall in the number of properties available to rent.
While studio apartments were not included in the overall figure for HAP properties, there were 29 studio apartments available within HAP limits, with 27 located in Dublin, one in Cork city, and one in Kildare.
Ber Grogan, Executive Director at the Simon Communities of Ireland, said: “The findings from the latest Locked Out of the Market report continue to highlight the deepening crisis in Ireland’s private rental sector, particularly for people on low incomes who rely on HAP supports.
“With most of the properties concentrated in Dublin, the vast majority of the country remains effectively locked out of the rental market. In 10 of the 16 areas surveyed, there were no properties available within HAP limits at all. That is not a housing system that’s working for those most in need.
“Outside of Dublin, HAP tenants face an uphill struggle with little to no access to suitable or affordable homes, with discretionary limits proving insufficient to meet current rental prices. This leaves families and individuals with impossible choices: remain in emergency accommodation, face prolonged experiences of homelessness, or take on unaffordable rents in an unstable private rental market.
“We urgently need increased supply of affordable and secure housing. Targeted action is required now, to prevent further homelessness and ensure people can access and sustain a home. It beggars belief to think that Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) could be scrapped at the end of this year. We’re asking the Minister to extend this legislation for at least one year to give people some certainty while alternatives are being discussed.”