Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 110: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the local authorities which have already begun to participate in the rental accommodation scheme; the number of people in each of these local authority areas who have already been accommodated under the rental accommodation scheme. [5302/06]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his views on the operation of the rental allowance scheme to date in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5254/06]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of people who have been assessed as having a long-term housing need, including those on rent supplement for 18 months, for the purposes of the rental accommodation scheme. [5301/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 159 and 177 together.

Under the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, local authorities are providing accommodation for certain recipients of SWA rent supplement who have been assessed as having a long-term housing need. The initial project to transfer rent supplement recipients of 18 months or more continuous duration is due to be completed by the end of 2008. The implementation of RAS is a collaborative project between my Department, local authorities, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the community welfare service of the Health Service Executive.

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. South Tipperary, Fingal, Louth, Kilkenny and Monaghan County Councils and Waterford and Cork City Councils are also now implementing RAS. These authorities collectively cover more than 70% of the transferable cases. All local authorities will have commenced work on RAS by mid-year.

The first transfers to RAS took place in September 2005. More than 500 cases were transferred by the end of 2005, with a further 200 cases in 2006. The table shows the numbers involved in each authority. Based on Department of Social and Family Affairs data at the end of December last year, there were 60,176 households in receipt of rent supplement. More than half of these, almost 33,000 tenants, have been on the scheme for 18 months or more. The latest statutory assessment of housing needs identified some 13,778 rent supplement households seeking local authority housing support.

Regarding the general progress on the implementation of the scheme, the main objective in 2005 was to put in place the support structures for RAS. By the end of last year this phase of the project was effectively complete. The Department has provided extensive guidance for local authorities, landlords and tenants on the operation of the scheme. Computer systems have been installed, model contract documents drawn up and approximately 170 local authority staff trained.

Local authority-based programme managers, funded by the Department, are also in place to assist local authorities in implementing the new arrangements and ensure liaison locally with HSE regional community welfare officers. Work is ongoing with the review of cases and interviews with tenants, of which more than 1,000 have taken place to date, with the inspection of properties and with meeting accommodation providers. While the roll out of the scheme in 2005 was slower than originally envisaged, I expect the rate of transfer of tenants to RAS to accelerate over the coming weeks and months. Overall, I am satisfied that good progress is being made and that the collaborative approach of all the agencies involved will ensure that RAS will be successful and meet its targets for the coming years.