Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of households that have been transferred to the RAS scheme; when he will publish the legislation to underpin the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13261/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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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. It is a collaborative project between my Department, local authorities, the Department of Social and Family Affairs and the Health Service Executive. All housing authorities are now mobilised and practically all have begun to transfer cases. Since transfers commenced in September 2005, 3,200 households have been provided with RAS accommodation and a further 2,450 rent supplement households have been allocated local authority housing. To date over 20,000 cases equivalent of 60% of the current target of recipients of rent supplement of over 18 months have been reviewed by local authorities for transfer to RAS.

The Government have approved the drafting of the Social Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2006, which provides, inter alia, for the Rental Accommodation Scheme. The drafting of the Bill is being advanced as quickly as possible and it is expected that it will be published by early summer this year.