Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)

The Housing Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2009 gives legislative recognition to rental accommodation availability agreements as a form of social housing support. Consequently, since 1 April 2011, RAS tenants are now considered to be in receipt of social housing support and should not generally remain on housing waiting lists for new applicants for social housing. In recognition that RAS tenants may have had reasonable expectations in regard to retaining access to traditional local authority rented accommodation, guidance issued by my Department recommended that there should be a special transfer pathway for RAS tenants to other forms of social housing support. It is my understanding that the members of many authorities have now included a provision of this type in their allocation schemes and that such tenants are included on transfer waiting lists.

RAS tenants obtain significant benefits through being in receipt of social housing support compared to remaining on rent supplement. In the first instance, this allows such tenants to take up full-time employment following their move to RAS. Second, it makes the housing needs of the tenants the responsibility of the housing authority, with the added security that this implies. Finally, it ensures that tenants do not have to apply for social housing and be assessed under the new housing needs assessment criteria.

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