Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Croí Cónaithe scheme is going really well. There have been more than 1,000 applications across the country from people seeking grants to allow them to being old buildings or homes back into use. This is really positive and we are very encouraged by it. The figures relating to the scheme are not counted in our new housing statistics. They should be because a home brought back into use is a new home in my view. The Minister is committed to carrying out a review of the scheme this year. He will look at the issue of homes being brought back into use for rent because that would be valuable and helpful. We have come across people who own three or four derelict properties and who would like to sell one or move into one and rent out the other two. That does not seem like a bad idea. This is something the Minister will examine. We will also look at the two-year rule. However, with any scheme, no matter how good it is, there are people who will try to abuse it. We do not want to create the situation whereby people are incentivised to leave properties derelict in order to avail of grants at a later date. We have to bear that in mind as well.

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