Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 November 2018
187. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the amount spent on the rental accommodation scheme in 2017; and the projected amount for 2018 and 2019, respectively. [46061/18]
View answerThe Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) introduced in 2005 places responsibility on local authorities to meet the accommodation needs of people in receipt of Rent Supplement for 18 months or longer, and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need.
Expenditure on the scheme in 2017 was just under €143m. €134.34m has been allocated to RAS for each of the years 2018 and 2019. From 1 January to the end of August 2018, expenditure of €111.7m had been incurred. This provision will fund the cost to local authorities of existing RAS agreements and new transfers targeted over the period.
RAS continues to be an effective and secure form of social housing support, and remains a significant part of the suite of social housing options currently available to those who are assessed as being in need of housing support.
