Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1398: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if there is a uniform system under which local authorities conduct their tri-annual housing assessment; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in County Kildare the housing assessment gives rise to a decrease in the numbers on the local authority waiting list; the concerns he has that many applicants who have not received housing assessment forms are removed from the waiting list and if subsequently restored are routinely denied credit on the points system for their previous applications; his views on whether the method of assessment can be improved in order to give a more accurate picture of the extent of need which exists in any area and in order to ensure that each applicant is treated fairly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30214/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Housing authorities conduct their triennial housing needs assessment in accordance with Section 9 of the Housing Act 1988. Prior to any assessment being carried out the Department issues guidance to housing authorities to ensure a consistent assessment system. It is a matter for individual authorities, in accordance with legislation and having regard to guidance issued by my Department, to undertake the assessment of need.

The assessment requires local authorities, taking all reasonable measures, to contact existing applicants on their waiting list to determine if they are still in need of housing. This is usually done by writing directly to existing applicants and advertising in the locality that an assessment is being carried out. Authorities are also required to contact the local offices of the HSE and various voluntary organisations whose members may be in need of housing.

The Government's housing policy statement — Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities — published in 2007 signalled the intention to introduce a new means for assessing housing need. The key objectives of the new assessment process are to ensure consistency, efficiency, accuracy and fairness in the assessment process. Following consultation with a wide range of interests a new system for assessing need has been developed and will be underpinned by provisions in the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008, published in July 2008.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 1399: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of local authority tenants in a county (details supplied) accommodated under the rental accommodation scheme; the funding allocated to the local authority under this scheme; the plans he has to extend this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30243/08]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, 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, rather than existing local authority tenants. Some 183 rent supplement households in the county in question had transferred into RAS by the end of August 2008. A further 299 households have been accommodated in other forms of social housing. Up to end August 2008, over €1.5 million had been recouped to the housing authority concerned for expenditure incurred.

Over the longer term the use of leased accommodation will continue to be an important policy instrument in meeting housing need.