Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 407: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of houses rented under the rental accommodation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41845/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Since the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) became operational in September 2005 to the end of October 2009, some 23,469 households units have been transferred from rent supplement. Of these, 12,611 are housed directly in RAS accommodation – comprising 8,159 households who, in transferring, remained in their existing accommodation and 4,452 households who transferred to newly sourced accommodation - and a further 10,858 were accommodated under other social housing options.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 408: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason landlords who have entered into rental accommodation scheme contracts are not liable for the €200 non-principal private residence levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41846/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The charge on all non-principal private residences is payable by the owners of private rented accommodation, holiday homes and any other residential property that is not the owner's sole or main residence. Landlords participating in the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) are exempt from the charge under section (2)(i)(f) of the Local Government (Charges) Act 2009 in order to encourage take-up of the scheme and to prevent a circular flow of income to and from local authorities.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 409: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number and value of leases with landlords who are on the rental accommodation scheme that have been renegotiated downwards in the past year; the value for money received by the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41847/09]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Information in relation to the number and value of contracts entered into by local authorities with landlords for the purpose of providing accommodation under the Rental Accommodation Scheme is not held by my Department. Under the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), it is a matter for each local authority to determine the rental payment it will make for any eligible property. However, the levels of recoupment available to them from my Department, which are based on rent supplement levels, may guide local authorities in their negotiations with landlords.

As part of their negotiation process, local authorities may agree, at their discretion, periodic rent reviews with landlords in line with the prevailing market conditions at the time. My Department has issued guidance to authorities advising them to ensure that rent reviews are undertaken where provided for and also advising authorities of the need to obtain value for money and have regard to local market conditions when entering into new agreements. Overall, I am satisfied that the scheme is providing value for money.

One of the main objectives for the RAS is to improve the living conditions and standards of accommodation for recipients and, to date, some 4,452 new units of accommodation (i.e. not currently in use for Rent Supplement purposes) have been sourced by authorities, which are generally of a higher standard than the existing Rent Supplement accommodation occupied by the households concerned. In that context, it is considered that the scheme is delivering value for money, as well as meeting an important social policy goal of delivering better accommodation to vulnerable households.

In addition, my Department has supported a number of external reviews of RAS undertaken by the Centre for Housing Research, as well as undertaking an Interim Value for Money and Policy Review of the scheme. In line with the Department of Finance guidelines on the latter, the completed review has recently been the subject of an external evaluation and will be published shortly.