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

Taking the Deputies in order, as Deputy Murnane O'Connor is probably aware, we increased the HAP rates in the last period. There is 30% discretion and we keep it under constant review. An area to point to is the tenantin situ scheme. We want people coming off HAP and on to tenantin situ. We set a target of 1,500 last year.

We have exceeded that target to reach 1,700. As regards the scheme, we want local authorities to purchase homes for people who are on HAP and where the landlord intends to sell the home. We are very keen on that and that any local authority be encouraged to continue to purchase homes under the tenant in situscheme.

To respond to Deputy McAuliffe, we keep in constant contact with Dublin City Council, the LDA and whoever else is involved to progress those projects.

To respond to Deputy Gould, as regards Cork city, 130 voids were returned in 2023. He was not here earlier. Between 2020 and 2023, for Cork City Council the number was 644, with €10 million spent. We want properties to come back into use. Cork City Council spent roughly €19,000 to return each property to use. It is a combination. The councils have a scheme in terms of rents. They are supposed to use that also to bring properties back into use. We want a planned scheme whereby the councils move to bring back into use properties as they become vacant.

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