Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 May 2026
332. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide an update of progress on the recommendations contained within the 2024 DHLGH report "A review of the future of the Rental Accommodation Scheme" in particular, if he will report on the recommendations that the weekly AHB RAS rental subsidy limits be reviewed and that an AHB RAS forum be set up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33599/26]
View answerMy Department undertook a comprehensive review of the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS), which was published in January 2025, and sets out 23 recommendations to refocus and rejuvenate the scheme. These measures are aimed at retaining landlords, ensuring housing quality and improving access to housing for vulnerable households. The review confirms that RAS remains an important component of the social housing system, providing long-term accommodation for households with a housing need.
Implementation of the recommendations is progressing, with a number of recommendations already completed and others at various stages of advancement.
In particular, an Approved Housing Body (AHB) RAS Forum was established in early 2026 to strengthen engagement with the AHB sector and to inform ongoing policy development. The Forum has already met and will continue to meet on a regular basis with a meeting scheduled to take place later this month.
My Department is examining the funding of AHBs in both the short and longer term. In the short term this includes consideration of the recommendation in the review to examine the weekly AHB RAS subsidy limits. In the longer term, AHB funding is being examined through the AHB Strategic Review which is considering the overall funding framework for the sector.
In this context, the Department is also engaging with the Irish Council of Social Housing (ICSH) in relation to available income streams, including claiming the appropriate weekly subsidy and applying correct tenant contributions. This matter was also discussed at the recent AHB RAS Forum.
A copy of the Review is available at the following link: https://assets.gov.ie/static/documents/a-review-of-the-future-of-the-rental-accommodation-scheme.pdf.
