Dublin and Cork have the highest number of recipients for the €344 million in rent supplement the Government has provided in 2014.
Figures show there are 72,444 people receiving rent supplement in Ireland this year, with the highest number coming from Dublin (26,978) followed by Cork (8,351) and Kildare (3,751).
Leitrim has the lowest number of people in receipt of the payment (335) along with Monaghan (359) and Cavan (398).
This year’s figure is down from 87,684 in 2012 and 79,788 in 2013.
The Minister for Social Protection Minister Joan Burton revealed the figures last week, in response to a parliamentary question asked by Fianna Fáil’s Barry Cowen.
The Government is currently in the process of transferring responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need to local authorities under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
The Minister of State at the Department of Social Protection Kevin Humphreys said the Department’s strategic policy direction is to transfer responsibility for recipients of rent supplement with a long-term housing need to local authorities under the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP).
Mr Humphreys said HAP will provide a more integrated system of housing supports and has been designed to allow any households that find full-time employment to remain in the scheme.
Rent supplement will continue to be paid to those already in the private rented sector who have a short-term need of rental support, often as a result of losing their job.
HAP was introduced in Cork County Council, Limerick City and County Council and Waterford City and County Council in September and in South Dublin County Council, Kilkenny County Council, Monaghan County Council and Louth County Council in October.
To date, over 200 people have been taken onto the HAP scheme, which includes both direct transfers from the rent supplement scheme and new applicants that have being assessed as qualifying for social housing support by the local authority.
Earlier this year the Irish Times revealed that one landlord received €578,000 from the State in the form of rent supplement payments last year.
The top 20 earning landlords received almost €5 million while the average payment to landlords was €5,400.