Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. On his last point, I will very shortly be announcing the Croí Cónaithe towns and villages fund. It will focus first on the centre of towns and villages. We will see how well that works. What this will do is provide a grant in the region of €30,000 to people who want to buy properties that are either vacant or derelict to help defray the cost of doing them up and getting them livable, on the basis they are living in them. We also provide a scheme under repair and lease for social housing, which is working very well. We have increased the limits to €60,000, where people will get an allowance to do up those properties and then rent them to the local authorities on a long-term basis. The Croí Cónaithe towns and villages fund will be launched in the coming weeks and will have a very significant positive effect on tackling vacancy and helping people own their own homes.

The long-term rental issue the Deputy raised in connection with the income disregard is something that will be considered in advance of the budget.

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