Rental Accommodation Scheme

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 July 2012

Tuesday, 17 July 2012

Ceisteanna (476)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

488 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of households and persons that have applied for inclusion in the rental accommodation scheme operated by local authorities in calendar years 2010 and 2011, and in the first six months of 2012; the number of households and persons for which housing was sourced under the rental accommodation scheme operated by local authorities in calendar years 2010 and 2011, and in the first six months of 2012; the number of households and persons registered at present on the rental accommodation scheme operated by local authorities that are awaiting the provision of rented accommodation. [35200/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Deputy Jan O’Sullivan)

While information on the number of persons who have applied for RAS is not held by my Department, it should be noted that the main qualifying criterion for the scheme is that a person should be in receipt of rent supplement for a period of 18 months or more. From information in relation to the operation of the Rent Supplement Scheme, which is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, I understand that at end

March 2012, 53,935 rent supplement supported households met the 18 month criterion.

Since the beginning of 2010 and up to May 2012, which is the latest date for which figures have been compiled, 15,097 households have been transferred from Rent Supplement to RAS and other social housing options: 6,609 in 2010; 6,337 in 2011 and 2,151 between January and May this year.