Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the local authority housing waiting lists, broken down by local authority, as of 1 March 2010; the number of households in receipt of the rental accommodation scheme in 2009 and 2010 broken down by quarter. [15937/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The number of households on a local authority's waiting list continuously fluctuates as households on the list are allocated housing and new households apply for housing support. My Department does not hold information in relation to the numbers currently on waiting lists in local authorities.

A statutory assessment of housing need is carried out every three years by all housing authorities in accordance with the terms of the Housing Act 1988. The last assessment took place in 2008 and indicated that there were 56,249 households in need of social housing support. Further information regarding the assessment, including a breakdown of the net need figure by housing authority, is available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie.

With regard to the number of households which have been accommodated through the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), since the scheme became operational in September 2005 to the end of March 2010, some 26,164 households units have been transferred from rent supplement. Of these, 14,188 are housed directly in RAS accommodation and a further 11,976 were accommodated under other social housing options.

A breakdown showing the position by quarter since 2009 is set out below.