The Housing Minister has announced an increase in the discretion rate for all HAP tenancies.
Darragh O'Brien says the increase from 20% to 35% will secure and expand more tenancies and prevent new entries to homelessness.
He's also signaled that future applications from single people will be eligible for the couples rate of the Housing Assistance Payment.
Pat Doyle, CEO of the Peter McVerry Trust, says that this is a significant change;
"55% of everybody on the housing list are single and require a one bed, and you can't get a one bed in any of the major cities for €950 a month. So bringing the rate up by 35% now to over 1200, means they have a better chance of competing for it on the private rental market."
