Over half of the country's renters get help from the state with their housing costs.
The ESRI says nearly 294,000 people got support with their accommodation needs in 2021 - which is 54 per cent of all tenants.
There are two main social housing support schemes for renters - the Rental Accommodation Scheme, and the Housing Assistance Payment.
Over twice as many renters are accessing these schemes nearly three decades ago - with less than 135,000 in 1994.
New figures, from the Department of Housing, show over €26 million was paid to landlords under these schemes last year - an increase of 8 per cent on 2020.
Dublin City Council paid out nearly €149 million euro under HAP and RAS last year.
Other counties with high figures include Cork, Louth, Kildare, Meath and Wicklow.
