Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the practice of Dublin City Council of postponing applications to the rental accommodation scheme with the effect that in some cases applicants cannot avail of rent supplement while in full-time work as provided for under section 25 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007. [12212/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the importance of the arrangements provided for in the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007 whereby eligible persons due to transfer to the Rental Accommodation Scheme [RAS] can return to full-time employment or take up a training position and continue to remain eligible for rent supplement. It is a matter for individual housing authorities, in this case Dublin City Council, to consider how best to implement the arrangements. The Council has advised my Department that it continues to accept new applicants and where this involves rent supplement recipients returning to work special measures are in place between the City Council and the Health Service Executive's Community Welfare Division to fast-track applications for RAS. The Council has undertaken to assess a person's eligibility for RAS within seven working days and inform the Community Welfare Division. These arrangements ensure that applicants can avail fully of the provisions of Section 25 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2007.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government his plans to reform the practices of housing authorities in allocating housing units; the work that has been ongoing in this reform to date; if he has considered a specific amendment to section 11 of the Housing Act 1988; and when he will authorise the revised scheme of lettings which Dublin City Council submitted to him for approval recently. [14496/08]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the social housing reform agenda, as set out in the Government's Housing Policy Statement, Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities, there is a commitment to the reform of housing allocation policy. Proposals for a new allocation policy have been developed by my Department in consultation with the County and City Managers' Association, and have been discussed and endorsed by the Housing Forum. The aims of the policy reforms are to improve consistency and transparency in decision making, to provide a better fit between needs and resources and to respond, as far as possible, to the expressed preferences of individual households. Legislative provision to underpin the reforms, which it is envisaged will involve the replacement of section 11 of the Housing Act 1988, will be included in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is currently being drafted and is expected to be published during the present Dáil session.

A revised scheme of letting priorities for Dublin City Council was submitted to my Department in February 2008. The terms of the revised scheme are currently under consideration. I expect to make a decision on the scheme shortly.