John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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792. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of properties that have become available under the repair and leasing scheme for each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32160/17]

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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808. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress to date of the repair and lease scheme; the number of properties currently involved in the scheme; and the average amount required up front by the property owner to bring the unit back into stock. [32369/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 792 and 808 together.

The Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) 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 up to a maximum of €40,000 will be met upfront by the local authority or an approved housing body (AHB).

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. 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 targets for each local authority are set out in tabular form. 

This activity will be closely monitored 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.  My Department is currently gathering data from local authorities in order to report progress in what was the first full quarter of operation of the national scheme and this will be published on my Department's website in due course.

2017 RLS Targets per Local Authority