David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 96: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the details of the progress to date of the rental accommodation scheme; if the first eligible recipients have been housed under this scheme; if not, the reason therefor; when they will be housed; if his Department will meet the target of 5,000 rent supplement recipients to be housed under this scheme by the end of 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22372/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to the reply to Question No. 1078 of 12 April 2005 on general progress on the rental accommodation scheme.

To date no households have transferred to the scheme. The lead authorities, Dublin, Limerick and Galway City Councils, South Dublin, Offaly, Westmeath and Donegal County Councils and Drogheda Borough Council, are scheduled to commence the transfer of households from July. All other authorities are due to commence operation of the scheme before the end of the year. The transfer of 5,000 households remains the target for 2005 but the achievement of this target depends on the response from landlords and the voluntary-co-operative housing sector to the scheme. First indications are that the response is generally positive. My Department will closely monitor progress in the scheme in the coming months.