The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is an initiative to cater for the accommodation needs of certain persons in receipt of rent supplement, normally for more than 18 months and who are assessed as having a long-term housing need. Since 1 April 2011 formal legislative recognition has been given to the scheme.
Data supplied quarterly to my Department by the Department of Social Protection enable local authorities to identify all those persons in receipt of rent supplement for 18 months or more who are eligible to transfer to RAS. At the end of March 2012 there were 53,935 individuals on rent supplement for 18 months or longer.
While the list of individuals who are on rent supplement for more than 18 months is the main source of transfers to RAS, housing authorities seeking to source additional accommodation use a range of methods to encourage landlords to provide accommodation including local advertising and direct contact.
Question No. 502 answered with Question No. 435.