COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF TALLAGHT AREA COMMITTEE (1)

Monday, February 16, 2009

MOTION NO. 16

MOTION: Councillor E. Maloney

That the Housing Dept., report on the RAS Scheme as it operates within the Tallaght area, and indicate how the down-turn in the property market will effect the Scheme this year.

REPORT:

The Rental Accommodation Scheme commenced in South Dublin County Council in late 2005.  At the end of January 2009 a total of  668 Rent Supplement Recipients had been transferred  to RAS with 323 of these being in the Tallaght area.

When RAS commenced in South Dublin County Council many landlords were reluctant to join and adopted a 'wait and see' approach.  However the Scheme started to gain impetus and in late 2006 interest had increased significantly.

In mid 2008 there was a sharp increase in the number of landlords interested in the Scheme and this is continuing together with a more realistic approach on their part to rent levels. The staff of the RAS unit is conscienciously negotiating rents that deliver value for money for the Council and RAS rents have decreased significantly in the last year. It is expected that this will continue for the foreseeable future in light of the economic slowdown particularly in the property market.  RAS has set a target of 400 Rent Supplement Recipients to be transferred to the Scheme during 2009.