Private Rented Accommodation

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2012

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

Questions (184, 185, 186)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

186 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of units that have been acquired under the rental accommodation scheme by a local authority (details supplied); the number of these units occupied; the period for which units have been unoccupied; if he is fully satisfied with the operation of the scheme in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10226/12]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

193 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some local authorities may have acquired properties for use under the rental accommodation scheme, which does not meet the specific local demand; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that units consequently lie idle while the local authority waiting list grows; if he has or will instruct local authorities to desist from this inappropriate use of public money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10298/12]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

194 Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the manner in which local authorities are managing the rental accommodation scheme; if he will indicate on a county basis the number of RAS units that have been acquired in each of the years 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10299/12]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 193 and 194 together.

Since the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) commenced in late 2005 and to the end of December 2011 1,128 households have been transferred from Rent Supplement by Kildare Co Council. Of these 546 were housed directly under RAS and a further 582 were accommodated under other social housing options.

Each local authority is responsible for the effective and efficient management of the RAS within its own area, including the management of vacancies that arise. Notwithstanding this where a vacancy does arise local authorities have three months to fill that vacancy before my Department discontinues recoupment in respect of that accommodation.

Accommodation brought into the scheme may be a rent supplement recipient's existing accommodation but where this is not suitable, or where the landlord is unwilling to enter into RAS, the local authority must source alternative accommodation. The accommodation sourced has to meet minimum standards for private rental accommodation. In addition the local authority must ensure that the ongoing housing needs of the household are appropriately met in the accommodation it has sourced.

The core objectives of the scheme are to reform the approach towards providing accommodation within the private rented sector for long-term dependents under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme and to contribute to the attainment of better value for money for the State in the provision of long-term accommodation options. Housing authorities are very conscious of the need to attain value for money, and particularly so in the current economic climate. Value for money in relation to RAS can be viewed in a number of ways and can reflect both direct and indirect financial costs and benefits. Negotiating rent reviews and discounts along with the efficient management of RAS properties are some of the means my Department has advised authorities to utilise to attain good value and ensure the appropriate use of public funds. A value for money and policy review study of RAS is currently underway and will be finalised shortly.

The role of RAS has had to be adapted to reflect changes in the housing market and in the available capital funding for social housing. RAS is a successful programme which has achieved considerable output levels to date and delivered quality housing to a large number of households. Since the scheme began, some 37,757 households have transferred from rent supplement into RAS or other social housing options. The following below shows the number of transfers by local authority in the years 2009 to 2011:

Total No. of Transfers from Rent Supplement to RAS and Social Housing 2005-2011

Local Authorities (Housing)	2009	2010	2011	Total
Carlow Co. Cl.	150	132	128	410
Cavan Co. Cl.	155	144	162	461
Clare Co. Cl.	135	102	102	339
Cork City Cl.	279	353	359	991
Cork Co. Cl.	490	438	429	1,357
Donegal Co. Cl.	298	323	277	898
Dublin City Cl.	596	478	251	1,325
Dublin South Co. Cl.	527	452	365	1,344
Dun/Rathdown Co.Cl.	256	256	154	666
Fingal Co. Cl.	347	331	548	1,226
Galway City Cl.	208	135	168	511
Galway Co. Cl.	157	158	113	428
Kerry Co. Cl.	280	231	212	723
Kildare Co. Cl.	93	201	202	496
Kilkenny Co. Cl.	143	110	159	412
Laois Co. Cl.	53	64	75	192
Leitrim Co. Cl.	44	64	75	183
Limerick City Cl.	133	174	175	482
Limerick Co. Cl.	133	111	149	393
Longford Co. Cl.	106	94	42	242
Louth Co. Cl.	201	197	156	554
Mayo Co. Cl.	234	251	224	709
Meath Co. Cl.	135	164	168	467
Monaghan Co. Cl.	72	117	59	248
Nth Tipperary Co. Cl.	132	144	173	449
Offaly Co. Cl.	127	113	86	326
Roscommon Co.Cl.	145	165	144	454
Sligo Co. Cl.	163	117	128	408
Sth Tipperary Co. Cl.	200	196	199	595
Waterford City Cl.	181	111	250	542
Waterford Co. Cl.	142	155	99	396
Westmeath Co. Cl.	162	91	71	324
Wexford Co. Cl.	191	283	274	748
Wicklow Co. Cl.	134	154	161	449
Totals	6,802	6,609	6,337	19,748