Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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483. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the amount allocated to each county to date in 2017 under the repair and leasing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20112/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) has been developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in certain vacant properties across Ireland. The scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding needed to bring their properties up to the required standard for rental property.

Subject to the suitability of the property for social housing, and the agreement of the property owner, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the local authority or an AHB. This allows for the property owner to sign-up to a lease arrangement for a length that is linked to the value of the repairs, subject to a minimum period of 10 years. The value of the repairs will then be offset incrementally against the agreed rental payment over a defined period within the lease. Following on from the success of the initial RLS pilot in Waterford and Carlow local authorities, the pilot was expanded on a national basis from 23 February 2017 and is now available in all local authorities.

In recognition of both the critical demand for units and the potential the RLS has to offer, I assigned an additional €26m to fund the scheme in 2017, which brings the total amount available this year to €32m. This additional investment in 2017 means that delivery under the scheme can be accelerated and up to 800 vacant properties can be brought back into use as new homes for families on local authority waiting lists this year.

Local authorities are best placed to determine the availability of potential units in their local areas. Therefore, funding to support the RLS will be provided based on proposals submitted by local authorities to my Department rather than by individual allocation to each local authority. Local authorities have been provided with delegated authority to enter into contractual arrangements in respect of potential units. My Department will be closely monitoring this activity to ensure that the scheme works well; that the funding I have made available is utilised effectively; and ultimately, that new social houses are delivered using the scheme in 2017.