John Cummins (Waterford, Fine Gael)

I reiterate that it is important that local authority tenants who are paying weekly rents are provided with good quality and good comfort levels in their homes. No one will hear me disagreeing with that. It is set down in the rental standard regulations of 2019. Local authorities are obliged to provide that for their tenants. I have also set out what the Government is doing in providing funding to local authorities to assist them. Under the planned maintenance and voids programme, €31 million is available this year. Under the energy efficiency retrofit programme, €90 million is available. Under the disabled persons grants, a further €25 million is available. Within the regeneration programme, I mentioned €50 million being provided. This funding is expected to provide for upgrade works to more than 6,200 local authority homes this year.

The Department is working with the local authority sector, through the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, to drive a planned maintenance approach so that we can target local authority homes. There will be stock condition surveys carried out on all 150,000 social homes as part of that programme. The Department will continue to provide local authorities with funding support, including through the schemes I mentioned. It is important to note that local authorities have to move to a position whereby all the rents they are collecting from tenants are ploughed back into the maintenance and upkeep of properties because they receive a significant rent roll.

The Government is working with local authorities to ensure we have proper, adequate and comfortable homes for tenants.

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