Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 258: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the level of take-up in relation to the rental accommodation scheme operated by his Department; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Meath County Council no longer offers this scheme; his views in relation to local authorities who have discontinued the scheme; the action he plans to take to ensure availability of the scheme to all those eligible regardless of the position taken by local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26139/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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All local authorities are implementing the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and all have transferred cases to RAS to date. At end May 2008, a total of 13,618 cases nationally had been accommodated; 7,082 were housed directly under RAS, with a further 6,536 accommodated under other social housing options.

Meath County Council achieved its RAS implementation targets for 2007. In total, in the period from the commencement of RAS until May 2008, the Council has accommodated a total of 97 cases — 61 cases directly under RAS, with a further 36 cases accommodated under other social housing options.

I am advised by Meath County Council that a staff vacancy in early 2008 prevented them from fully implementing RAS in recent months. I understand that the vacancy will be filled in a number of weeks, enabling full implementation of RAS to resume.

Overall, RAS is progressing well and is on target to transfer an additional 5,000 cases, nationally, from Rent Supplement in 2008.