Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 805: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if, in view of the execution of the pilot rental supplement scheme projects, the issues that have arisen which will prompt further consideration of and amendments to the rental supplement scheme prior to the roll-out of the scheme to all housing authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29261/05]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 806: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of households that have been transferred from the community welfare supplement scheme to the new rental supplement scheme within the pilot project areas; if the roll-out of the rental supplement scheme to all housing authorities will commence within the timeframe envisaged originally; the level of satisfaction which has been communicated to him by both those participating in the scheme and those administering it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29262/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 805 and 806 together.

I refer to the reply to Question No. 175 of 29 September and Questions Nos. 536 and 557 of 4 October where I outlined the main actions to date in implementing the rental accommodation scheme, RAS. Under this scheme announced by the Government in July 2004, local authorities will over a four-year period progressively assume responsibility for accommodating supplementary welfare allowance, SWA, rent supplement recipients of 18 months or more continuous duration with a long-term housing need. The RAS is a collaborative project between my Department, the Department of Social and Family Affairs, local authorities and the community welfare service. Implementation of the scheme is being monitored closely and monthly progress reports are being prepared by the programme managers employed to co-ordinate the roll-out of the scheme by the local authorities.

Later this year an interim independent evaluation of the operation of the new arrangements for implementing RAS will be carried out. The evaluation will consider any further measures required to ensure the effectiveness of the roll out of the scheme. Where any additional details or amendments emerge in the light of the evaluation that impinge on the rent supplement scheme these will be brought to the attention of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Roll-out of the RAS commenced in an initial group of lead authorities, namely Dublin, Galway and Limerick city councils, south Dublin, Donegal, Offaly-Westmeath county councils, and Drogheda Borough Council. Cork city and county councils and South Tipperary County Council are now implementing the RAS. All local authorities are due to implement the new arrangements during 2005.

The first transfers to the RAS occurred in September 2005. Some 31 households have transferred from the SWA rent supplement scheme in the Galway City Council. It is estimated that a further 300 households will transfer to the RAS later this month, the majority of which will be in the Dublin city, Galway city and south Dublin county council areas.

First indications from the various agencies involved to the RAS have been generally positive. A number of seminars have been held in the lead local authorities to inform accommodation providers of the new scheme and receive their views. In addition, my Department has engaged the housing unit to arrange a series of information seminars, commencing in early November, to focus on the background to the establishment of the scheme and the policy and implementation issues currently facing implementing local authorities, community welfare service and the Departments concerned. These seminars will provide a vehicle for further feedback on the roll-out of the RAS.