Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have had the opportunity, on a number of occasions, to be in Limerick to look at regeneration schemes and new-build schemes and I was there at the weekend, albeit in a personal capacity. What is happening in the local authority at the moment is quite exciting. The Minister of State, Deputy English, has met the housing delivery team as part of the new delivery unit in the Department which he heads up, and it is a very good team. It members know what they are doing and we need to make sure they have the tools to deliver what they need to deliver. If there are any blockages or snags which the Deputy or any other Deputy can identify, they should give them to me. The Minister of State, Deputy English, the Department and I will inform the local authority in order that we can unblock problems. The funding is in place and local authorities know what they need to do so now we need to drive delivery and drive local authorities in respect of specific projects and sites.

A lot is happening under the repair and leasing scheme in Limerick City and County Council and 66 applications have been received, with six agreements to lease having been signed. There are more in the pipeline and €32 million has been secured in capital funding for the repair and leasing scheme in 2018, while further funding can be delivered if it is needed. There are other long-term leasings for which there is an allocation of €115 million in 2018, an increase of €31 million on last year.

Last week, a total of €2 million in claims for the council was processed in respect of delivery of new housing for social housing. We are doing that on a continuous basis, week in and week out.

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