Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have many measures that provide additional supply, including 30,000 new homes last year. The Minister referenced record commencements and completions in the first quarter of this year. Nearly 1,800 applications to date have been made to the Croí Cónaithe scheme. The target was 2,500 applications up to 2026 but 1,800 have come in to date, of which 702 have been approved. We want to bring old buildings back into use where they were built prior to 2007 and, effectively, have been vacant for two years. That scheme can be used in respect of renters as well as owner-occupiers and has been in place since 1 May.

I noted the point the Deputy made. As he will probably be aware, there are SEAI grants, including insulation grants for attics and so forth. At present, defined measures are in place that are structured around generally getting activation and getting new projects under way, including the repair and lease scheme through local authorities and, more particularly, Croí Cónaithe, to bring older properties back into use to deal with people who want to provide that excess capacity for rentals.

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