Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 368: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the average cost per applicant of the rental accommodation scheme; the number of persons accommodated under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43612/08]

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. As indicated in the table which follows, in the period to end-October 2008, over 16,400 households eligible for the scheme were transferred from rent supplement to accommodation provided by local authorities, either to RAS directly or to some other type of social housing.

The individual cost per applicant is not held by my Department. However, based on figures supplied to my Department by local authorities to the end of 2007 the average rent paid per month by local authorities to private landlords participating in the Rental Accommodation Scheme was €763. Tenants under RAS would pay a contribution towards these rental costs in line with each local authority's differential rents scheme.