Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 February 2014
379. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6393/14]
View answerThe Rental Accommodation Scheme is a targeted scheme to cater for the accommodation needs of persons in receipt of rent supplement, normally for more than 18 months, and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need. In that context the primary objective of RAS is to accommodate rent supplement recipients where it is deemed that they now have a long-term housing need.
The 18 month threshold, as referred to, is employed as a ‘rule of thumb’ to try to distinguish between persons who are seeking a short term income support and those who have a long term housing need. While in general a household must be in receipt of rent supplement for 18 months or more in order to qualify for RAS, housing authorities do, on occasion, accept households on to RAS where they have been less than 18 months on rent supplement. This occurs under exceptional circumstances and where a long term housing need can be demonstrated. Accepting persons into RAS before the 18 month period has elapsed has been applied in respect of homeless persons and for households with special needs. It has also been applied administratively where a landlord is bringing a number of properties across with tenants on rent supplement for different periods and where it has been relevant in facilitating persons moving back to employment.
It is considered, particularly in the current economic climate where unemployment is resulting in an increase in the numbers on rent supplement, that the 18 month threshold remains an appropriate juncture at which to review a household’s on-going need for support.
