I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 193 and 194 together.
Since the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) commenced in late 2005 and to the end of December 2011 1,128 households have been transferred from Rent Supplement by Kildare Co Council. Of these 546 were housed directly under RAS and a further 582 were accommodated under other social housing options.
Each local authority is responsible for the effective and efficient management of the RAS within its own area, including the management of vacancies that arise. Notwithstanding this where a vacancy does arise local authorities have three months to fill that vacancy before my Department discontinues recoupment in respect of that accommodation.
Accommodation brought into the scheme may be a rent supplement recipient's existing accommodation but where this is not suitable, or where the landlord is unwilling to enter into RAS, the local authority must source alternative accommodation. The accommodation sourced has to meet minimum standards for private rental accommodation. In addition the local authority must ensure that the ongoing housing needs of the household are appropriately met in the accommodation it has sourced.
The core objectives of the scheme are to reform the approach towards providing accommodation within the private rented sector for long-term dependents under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme and to contribute to the attainment of better value for money for the State in the provision of long-term accommodation options. Housing authorities are very conscious of the need to attain value for money, and particularly so in the current economic climate. Value for money in relation to RAS can be viewed in a number of ways and can reflect both direct and indirect financial costs and benefits. Negotiating rent reviews and discounts along with the efficient management of RAS properties are some of the means my Department has advised authorities to utilise to attain good value and ensure the appropriate use of public funds. A value for money and policy review study of RAS is currently underway and will be finalised shortly.
The role of RAS has had to be adapted to reflect changes in the housing market and in the available capital funding for social housing. RAS is a successful programme which has achieved considerable output levels to date and delivered quality housing to a large number of households. Since the scheme began, some 37,757 households have transferred from rent supplement into RAS or other social housing options. The following below shows the number of transfers by local authority in the years 2009 to 2011:
Total No. of Transfers from Rent Supplement to RAS and Social Housing 2005-2011
Local Authorities (Housing)
|
2009
|
2010
|
2011
|
Total
|
Carlow Co. Cl.
|
150
|
132
|
128
|
410
|
Cavan Co. Cl.
|
155
|
144
|
162
|
461
|
Clare Co. Cl.
|
135
|
102
|
102
|
339
|
Cork City Cl.
|
279
|
353
|
359
|
991
|
Cork Co. Cl.
|
490
|
438
|
429
|
1,357
|
Donegal Co. Cl.
|
298
|
323
|
277
|
898
|
Dublin City Cl.
|
596
|
478
|
251
|
1,325
|
Dublin South Co. Cl.
|
527
|
452
|
365
|
1,344
|
Dun/Rathdown Co.Cl.
|
256
|
256
|
154
|
666
|
Fingal Co. Cl.
|
347
|
331
|
548
|
1,226
|
Galway City Cl.
|
208
|
135
|
168
|
511
|
Galway Co. Cl.
|
157
|
158
|
113
|
428
|
Kerry Co. Cl.
|
280
|
231
|
212
|
723
|
Kildare Co. Cl.
|
93
|
201
|
202
|
496
|
Kilkenny Co. Cl.
|
143
|
110
|
159
|
412
|
Laois Co. Cl.
|
53
|
64
|
75
|
192
|
Leitrim Co. Cl.
|
44
|
64
|
75
|
183
|
Limerick City Cl.
|
133
|
174
|
175
|
482
|
Limerick Co. Cl.
|
133
|
111
|
149
|
393
|
Longford Co. Cl.
|
106
|
94
|
42
|
242
|
Louth Co. Cl.
|
201
|
197
|
156
|
554
|
Mayo Co. Cl.
|
234
|
251
|
224
|
709
|
Meath Co. Cl.
|
135
|
164
|
168
|
467
|
Monaghan Co. Cl.
|
72
|
117
|
59
|
248
|
Nth Tipperary Co. Cl.
|
132
|
144
|
173
|
449
|
Offaly Co. Cl.
|
127
|
113
|
86
|
326
|
Roscommon Co.Cl.
|
145
|
165
|
144
|
454
|
Sligo Co. Cl.
|
163
|
117
|
128
|
408
|
Sth Tipperary Co. Cl.
|
200
|
196
|
199
|
595
|
Waterford City Cl.
|
181
|
111
|
250
|
542
|
Waterford Co. Cl.
|
142
|
155
|
99
|
396
|
Westmeath Co. Cl.
|
162
|
91
|
71
|
324
|
Wexford Co. Cl.
|
191
|
283
|
274
|
748
|
Wicklow Co. Cl.
|
134
|
154
|
161
|
449
|
Totals
|
6,802
|
6,609
|
6,337
|
19,748
|