Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)

Approximately 100,000 people are on RAS, rental accommodation and rental subsidies schemes. This approximates to an expenditure of €500 million in rent allowances. Much of this expenditure goes to private landlords and, in many cases, the landlords also avail of mortgage interest relief.

The Minister referred to bringing 10,000 units of accommodation up to an acceptable standard. By our calculations, a total of €51.6 million would be saved on rent supplement and differential rates would raise €15 million a year. This policy has the potential to raise and save €66.6 million for the Exchequer in a full year with a saving of €20 million in 2012.

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