The state paid private landlords over €626m under two social housing schemes last year.
It's €47m euro more than in 2020.
The ESRI shows over half of renting households received support for their housing costs in 2020.
This amounts to almost 294,000 people.
There are two main social housing support schemes for renters - the Rental Accommodation Scheme, and the Housing Assistance Payment.
These involve the state subsidising a tenant's rent while they're in private rental accommodation.
New figures, from the Department of Housing, show over €626m was paid to landlords under these schemes last year - an increase of 8 per cent on 2020.
Dublin City Council paid out nearly €149m under HAP and RAS last year.
Other counties with high figures include Cork, Louth, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow.
