John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives of both Mayo County Council and Longford County Council for being here today.

The vacancy rate in local authorities is an issue that I have addressed with all of the representatives of the local authorities who have appeared so far before this committee. I welcome the comments that the representatives of Mayo County Council have made about utilising the repair and lease scheme. I welcome the fact that the county council will engage in a roadshow-type effort to raise awareness of the scheme and the county council will engage with the various actors, including local builders, estate agents and owners of derelict and vacant properties. That is a good approach and has worked exceptionally well in my own county of Waterford. As the representatives of both county councils will know, over 158 units have been delivered under the repair and lease scheme in Waterford. The scheme has had a transformative effect and I contend that a similar number of units should be delivered in all of the local authorities. The fact that Mayo County Council is in that space and is going to do this work is welcome.

My first question is for the representatives of Longford County Council, which has delivered just six units under the repair and lease scheme. The units were delivered in 2018, which is when the scheme commenced. Why has the county council not delivered any units under the repair and lease scheme since 2018?