Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the number of persons now on the rent accommodation scheme operated by the local authorities; the conditions of eligibility for an applicant to qualify; the minimum rent that eligible persons will be required to contribute towards rent from their income; the estimated annual cost of the scheme and if any changes are planned in the context of the four year budgetary plan. [44602/10]

Michael Finneran (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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To the end of October, 2010, 30,008 household units have been transferred to the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) from rent supplement. Of these, 16,696 were housed directly in RAS accommodation and a further 13,312 were accommodated under other social housing options.

The current qualifying criteria for RAS are that a household must be in receipt of rent supplement, in general for a period of 18 months or more, and have a long term housing need.

RAS tenants are charged rents based on a housing authority's differential rent scheme and the rent payable is calculated mainly by reference to household income. The differential rent schemes vary from authority to authority; however, the minimum weekly rent a tenant is expected to pay is €24.

There are no plans to change the operation or the terms and conditions of the scheme at the present time.