Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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167. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government in view of the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11, if he will outline the general policy regarding applications for rent supplement by rental accommodation scheme tenants, who are facing homelessness due to a notice to quit in circumstances, where the local authority has been unable to source an alternative rental accommodation scheme property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16125/15]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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Under the terms of the Rental Accommodation Scheme, where the dwelling that the household is living in becomes unavailable, through no fault of the household, the relevant local authority is responsible for sourcing alternative accommodation.

In such cases it is a matter for local authorities, in cooperation with tenants, to source alternative accommodation as quickly as possible. In seeking alternative accommodation a local authority should attempt to source a suitable alternative within or close to the area in which the tenant is residing. However, this is dependent on the availability of suitable properties in the areas affected. In all cases, not just where a tenancy is under threat, RAS households may aid the process by sourcing alternative accommodation themselves. Once identified to the local authority, any such accommodation must be assessed by the local authority as suitable to meet the household’s needs and be of an acceptable standard.

Where a person has had to vacate a RAS property, the person concerned will be eligible to an income support for their housing costs. Article 9(2)(e) of the Social Welfare (Consolidated Supplementary Welfare Allowance) Regulations 2007, provides that a person's entitlement would not be disqualified if they vacated accommodation provided by a housing authority where the Department of Social Protection is satisfied that the individual concerned had good cause for so doing.

Households affected by impending terminations are advised to contact the Department of Social Protection with a view to determining their entitlement to Rent Supplement should they be providing their own accommodation while awaiting appropriate RAS accommodation.