Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The Minister said at the beginning of his reply that the rent supplement scheme was intended to a short-term support, and it is a very necessary one. I cannot envisage a situation in the near future where rent supplement will not be needed. Given that in excess of more than one third of recipients are in receipt of it for more than 18 months, my concern is that it is not achieving what it was supposed to achieve.

The Minister is responsible for the scheme. We discussed the concept of joined-up Government thinking at a meeting yesterday and this is another example of where there is not joined-up Government thinking. The transfer rates to the RAS are less than ambitious. The initial targets in 2005 or so were more ambitious than the current targets. What discussions has the Minister had with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to ensure the rent budget is reduced by ensuring that the Department plays its part in ensuring people are transferred to the RAS? The figures the Minister gave for 2007 and 2008 included the RAS and social housing as distinct from the RAS alone. The RAS is popular with the public and with the people who need it but it is a major issue for people to be transferred to it.

I am sure the Minister will accept that it also beneficial in terms of eliminating poverty traps. One can be in receipt of rent supplement and then be assessed for the RAS and on being transferred to it a person can be lifted out of the poverty trap. It is only supposed to be a short-term support. What will be done to ensure that more people who have been on the list for 18 months will be transferred to the RAS?

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