Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will expedite the commencement of work on an affordable housing scheme at Clonakilty, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7197/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Lead responsibility for planning and developing this project on State land provided under the Affordable Housing Initiative rests with Cork County Council. My Department is in regular contact with the Council with a view to ensuring that the project is advanced as quickly as possible.

The latest information available indicates that following interviews on 23 March next, the Council expect to be in a position to appoint consultants in April to advance a number of issues relating to the project. These include the preparation of the documentation associated with the process of public consultation and approval by the elected members required under Part VIII of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, along with the preparation of cost plans, tender documentation and the construction contract.

The completion of the Part VIII process will be the principal factor determining when construction can commence on site. My Department will remain in ongoing contact with the Council with a view to having this project advanced to the construction stage as expeditiously as possible.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of households who have been transferred to RAS; the number of landlords with whom RAS agreements have been made; the cost to date to the State, including local authorities, of the RAS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7449/07]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 175: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the amount of money allocated to date to the rental accommodation scheme; the amount of money expended each year since the scheme began; the number and percentage of households in receipt of rent supplement for 18 months or more reviewed and allocated housing under the scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7464/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 175 together.

The Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is designed to cater for the accommodation needs of persons in receipt of rent supplement who have a long-term housing need. Since transfers commenced in September 2005, 3,000 households have been provided with RAS accommodation and a further 2,300 rent supplement households have been allocated local authority housing. Information on the number of individual landlords with whom RAS agreements have been made is not held in the Department.

To date some 20,000 cases the equivalent of over 60% of the current target group of recipients on rent supplement for more than 18 months have been reviewed by local authorities for transfer to RAS.

The amount spent to date on the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) is of the order of €8.020 million. Information on the full cost of implementing and administering the scheme at local and national level will be included in a review of the scheme to be undertaken at the end of 2007. Allocations and expenditure by year for RAS are set out in the table hereunder.