Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 November 2012
711. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of housing units for each housing authority currently tenanted under the residential accommodation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48199/12]
View answer712. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide details, on a county basis, of the number of houses currently tenanted under the long term leasing arrangement; the management agency responsible for these units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48200/12]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 711 and 712 together.
Data in relation to leasing and RAS units are generally provided as numbers of operational units under leasing or households transferred under RAS. The number of these units tenanted at any particular time varies as leases end, tenants move on to other properties or new tenancies are allocated. Recoupment in relation to both leasing and RAS is based on the securing of the property and making it available to social housing tenants. Where vacancies arise, local authorities, or approved housing bodies, have 3 months to re-let the unit. Where a new tenant is not in place within that 3 month period, recoupment under both schemes ceases until such time as a tenant is in situ. To the end of September 2012, local authorities had transferred a total of 41,623 households to the Rental Accommodation Scheme from Rent Supplement since the former commenced in late 2005. To the end of October 2012, 3,458 housing units have been made available for use as social housing under the Social Housing Leasing Initiative.
