John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

304. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of vacant properties that are being brought back to use under the repair and leasing scheme for each local authority, in tabular form; his views on whether the target of 800 units for 2017 will be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30327/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

In recognition of both the critical demand for units and the potential the RLS has to offer, an additional €26m was assigned 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.

Individual targets have been communicated to each local authority to ensure that the objective of 800 units for 2017 is achieved, and local authorities have been provided with delegated authority to enter into contractual arrangements in respect of that number of units. The RLS targets for each local authority are set out in tabular form below. 

My Department will be closely monitoring this activity to ensure that the scheme works well; that the funding available is utilised effectively; and ultimately, that new social houses are delivered using the scheme in 2017. If a local authority is in a position to secure more units through the scheme than their target, this is welcomed and funding will be provided accordingly.  The RLS has potential to deliver social housing quickly and for low level investment in comparison to new build projects and I expect local authorities, working together with AHBs, will successfully deliver the scheme this year.

2017 RLS Targets per Local Authority