Brendan Ryan (Dublin North, Labour)
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105. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to the rent allowance scheme, the restrictions that are placed on local authorities on the size of properties acceptable under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27445/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The operation of the rent allowance scheme is entirely a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social Protection. The Rental Accommodation Scheme on the other hand is administered entirely by local authorities and is intended to provide an additional source of good quality rented accommodation for eligible persons. Individual authorities enter into contractual arrangements on behalf of tenants with accommodation providers, primarily in the private rented sector to secure medium to long-term availability of rented accommodation.

When a local authority sources a property, or enters into a RAS arrangement with a property provider, it is based on a number of factors, namely that the property meets minimum standards for private rental accommodation, that it meets with the housing needs of the household concerned, and that the rent sought represents value for money. In that context there is no restriction per seon the size of a property entering the scheme where it meets the needs of the household concerned provided the household is not over accommodated in the property. It is a matter for each local authority to determine its own needs and those of the household when considering units under the scheme.