HAP rental units in Ireland dropped to 24 in September 2025, mostly in Dublin, due to unaffordable rates, sparking calls for reform.

Rental units available under Ireland’s HAP scheme fell to 24 in September 2025, a 25% drop from June and 26% from last year, with 21 of the 24 in Dublin due to higher discretionary payments. Only Dundalk and Kildare outside Dublin had HAP-eligible homes, while major cities like Cork, Galway, Limerick, Sligo, and Waterford had none. Advocates say HAP rates no longer cover market rents, pushing low-income tenants toward homelessness and urging immediate increases and mandatory affordable housing requirements, as a government review begins.