Galway Bay fm newsroom - An analysis of property website Daft.ie has revealed 70 properties available across Galway within the newly increased HAP limits.
It's after the Housing Minister recently announced an increase in the discretionary top-up rate to 35 percent for the payment.
The analysis by the Labour Party found that with the new discretionary rate in mind, there are just 820 homes nationwide within the HAP limit.
According to the Irish Independent, the state spent half a billion euro on the Housing Assistance Payment scheme last year.
In Galway City, there were 25 properties within the revised HAP limits, while in the county, 45 homes were available.
In ten counties, there are fewer than 10 properties available - the lowest is Co. Donegal, where just 3 homes are within current HAP limits.
Labour Senator Rebecca Moynihan is warning the system has effectively collapsed - and says moving from direct build social housing to HAP has proved a disaster.
