Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the progress to date in 2005 on the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36608/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, 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, local authorities, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the community welfare service. All local authorities are due to implement the new arrangements during 2005. Roll-out commenced in an initial group of lead authorities, namely, Dublin, Galway and Limerick city councils, South Dublin, Donegal, Offaly and Westmeath county councils and Drogheda Borough Council. Cork City and County councils and South Tipperary County Council are now implementing the RAS.

I refer to the reply to Question No. 677 of 25 October where I outlined the main actions taken in implementing the scheme. The first transfers to the RAS occurred in the Galway City Council area where 56 households have transferred from the SWA rent supplement scheme. A further 220 households will transfer to the RAS on 1 December in the Dublin city area.