Public Consultation on the Review of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS)

In September 2021, the government launched ‘Housing for All - a New Housing Plan for Ireland’. Action point 4.9 of this plan is to carry out a review of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS) and to consider the role of the RAS in the private market, taking account of the impact of the Housing Assistance Payment scheme (HAP) and Approved Housing Body (AHB) participation. The review is to be completed by the end of Q1 2023, after which the implementation phase will begin.

The submission process is an opportunity for stakeholders and members of the public to provide information, experiences and different perspectives on RAS. The department is specifically interested in receiving the views of stakeholders involved in the delivery of the scheme, including AHBs, private landlords and tenants. We would like to hear your views on all aspects of the scheme including what works well and what doesn’t?

Do you have any ideas on improvements or changes to the scheme? If you do please contact us. We want to hear from you.

In July 2004, the government approved the setting up of RAS which became operational in 2005. The core objectives of the scheme were 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.

The scheme caters for households that have been in receipt of Rent Supplement (from the Department of Social Protection) for over 18 months and that have a long-term housing need. RAS was designed to be an accommodation-based approach using private sector landlords who enter into availability agreements with relevant local authorities. Under the initiative the procurement/sourcing of accommodation is the responsibility of the local authorities concerned.

While RAS was designed to be an accommodation based approach using private sector landlords, there is a second dimension to the scheme whereby accommodation is provided by AHBs. There are significant differences between the 2 strands of RAS:

• private RAS tenancies – where properties are sourced from the private rental market
• AHB RAS tenancies – where the properties are owned by AHBs, the majority of these properties will have been funded by the department under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS)

Further details on RAS.

Please complete the Submission Form under "Documents" and either:

• email the completed form to RASReview@housing.gov.ie or
• post to:

RAS Review, Leasing, HAP and RAS Section, Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Newtown Road, Wexford, Y35 AP90.

The closing date for submissions is 16 December 2022.

Submissions received are a vital source of information which will help to inform department policy on the future of RAS.

Any personal information which you provide to this department will be treated with the highest standards of security and confidentiality and strictly in accordance with data protection law including GDPR. However, please note the following:

• the information provided in the submission form may be shared with relevant government departments and State organisations
• the department will publish the outcome of the review and may publish the submissions received under this consultation on its website
• during the review process, any personal data that is received will be anonymised prior to sharing and/or publication
• as information received by the department is subject to the Freedom of Information Act, such information may be considered for release under the FOI Act

All submissions received as part of this consultation may be published or otherwise released under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014 and the European Communities (Access to Information on the Environment) Regulations 2007- 2014.

Submissions are also subject to Data Protection legislation. Personal, confidential or commercially sensitive information should not be included in the text of your submission.