Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013
573. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that rental accommodation scheme currently costing Dublin City Council €1.5 million a year above Department funding to administer; his views on whether this is sustainable; and if he is aware of any other local authorities running at a deficit due to RAS. [26677/13]
View answerFunding for the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is provided by a transfer of monies from the Department of Social Protection’s Vote to the Vote of my Department. Monies are provided on an Exchequer neutral basis to meet the costs of persons transferring from the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Rent Supplement Scheme to the RAS, including an amount for the administration of the Scheme. The amount allocated for 2013 is €150 million, an increase of €15 million from 2012. The issue of local authorities incurring costs in excess of the overall amount provided in the annual transfer of monies from the Department of Social Protection does not therefore arise.
