Rental Accommodation Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 November 2010

Thursday, 25 November 2010

Questions (196)

Richard Bruton

Question:

196 Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of persons now on the rent accommodation scheme operated by the local authorities; the conditions of eligibility for an applicant to qualify; the minimum rent that eligible persons will be required to contribute towards rent from their income; the estimated annual cost of the scheme and if any changes are planned in the context of the four year budgetary plan. [44602/10]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran)

To the end of October, 2010, 30,008 household units have been transferred to the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) from rent supplement. Of these, 16,696 were housed directly in RAS accommodation and a further 13,312 were accommodated under other social housing options.

The current qualifying criteria for RAS are that a household must be in receipt of rent supplement, in general for a period of 18 months or more, and have a long term housing need.

RAS tenants are charged rents based on a housing authority's differential rent scheme and the rent payable is calculated mainly by reference to household income. The differential rent schemes vary from authority to authority; however, the minimum weekly rent a tenant is expected to pay is €24.

There are no plans to change the operation or the terms and conditions of the scheme at the present time.