Social and Affordable Housing.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 February 2010

Tuesday, 16 February 2010

Ceisteanna (467)

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

526 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the position in relation to the rental accommodation scheme run by South Dublin County Council; if, under the scheme the Council negotiates availability, contracts with landlords for the use of their properties for medium to long term use whereby the Council enjoys exclusive nomination rights to the property which is used to provide accommodation to those who have been in receipt of rent supplement for at least 18 months and who have a long-term housing need which they cannot meet from their own resources, is it correct that the new tenant has a choice of three houses and can refuse the first two even if they are in their area of choice and in good condition and previously privately rented, usually in the Council’s own housing scheme; if a person on the housing list refuses a house or flat they have to wait for a year before they are offered another house or flat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7859/10]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy Michael Finneran)

The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is designed to cater for the accommodation needs of persons in receipt of rent supplement who have a long-term housing need. It is a collaborative project between my Department, local authorities, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Health Service Executive, and it operates in all housing authority areas.

Under the scheme, which commenced in 2005, local authorities assume responsibility for accommodating long-term recipients of supplementary welfare allowance rent supplement. One of the main features of the scheme is that local authorities in sourcing accommodation for these households make use of the private and voluntary sector and enter into contractual arrangements to secure medium to long-term availability of rented accommodation.

To the end of 2009, South Dublin County Council had transferred 1,740 households from rent supplement either directly into RAS accommodation or into other forms of social housing.

With regard to how many offers of accommodation a rent supplement recipient may refuse, the Department of Social and Family Affairs is responsible for the administration of the rent supplement scheme. Under the relevant regulations, a rent supplement payment will not be payable for 12 months where a recipient has refused two offers of accommodation either from a housing authority or an approved housing body within any continuous 12 month period.