Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of units that have been acquired under the rental accommodation scheme by a local authority (details supplied); the number of these units occupied; the period for which units have been unoccupied; if he is fully satisfied with the operation of the scheme in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10226/12]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some local authorities may have acquired properties for use under the rental accommodation scheme, which does not meet the specific local demand; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that units consequently lie idle while the local authority waiting list grows; if he has or will instruct local authority to desist from this inappropriate use of public money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10298/12]

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 194: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on the manner in which local authorities are managing the rental accommodation scheme; if he will indicate on a county basis the number of RAS units that have been acquired in each of the years 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10299/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 186, 193 and 194 together.

Since the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) commenced in late 2005 and to the end of December 2011 1,128 households have been transferred from Rent Supplement by Kildare Co Council. Of these 546 were housed directly under RAS and a further 582 were accommodated under other social housing options.

Each local authority is responsible for the effective and efficient management of the RAS within its own area, including the management of vacancies that arise. Notwithstanding this where a vacancy does arise local authorities have three months to fill that vacancy before my Department discontinues recoupment in respect of that accommodation.

Accommodation brought into the scheme may be a rent supplement recipient's existing accommodation but where this is not suitable, or where the landlord is unwilling to enter into RAS, the local authority must source alternative accommodation. The accommodation sourced has to meet minimum standards for private rental accommodation. In addition the local authority must ensure that the ongoing housing needs of the household are appropriately met in the accommodation it has sourced.

The core objectives of the scheme are to reform the approach towards providing accommodation within the private rented sector for long-term dependents under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance Scheme and to contribute to the attainment of better value for money for the State in the provision of long-term accommodation options. Housing authorities are very conscious of the need to attain value for money, and particularly so in the current economic climate. Value for money in relation to RAS can be viewed in a number of ways and can reflect both direct and indirect financial costs and benefits. Negotiating rent reviews and discounts along with the efficient management of RAS properties are some of the means my Department has advised authorities to utilise to attain good value and ensure the appropriate use of public funds. A value for money and policy review study of RAS is currently underway and will be finalised shortly.

The role of RAS has had to be adapted to reflect changes in the housing market and in the available capital funding for social housing. RAS is a successful programme which has achieved considerable output levels to date and delivered quality housing to a large number of households. Since the scheme began, some 37,757 households have transferred from rent supplement into RAS or other social housing options. The following below shows the number of transfers by local authority in the years 2009 to 2011.