James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his plans to further develop the buy and renew scheme to facilitate the delivery of housing stock. [38286/20]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Buy and Renew scheme supports local authorities in purchasing and renovating homes in need of repair which can then be made available for social housing use. The initiative particularly focuses on older, vacant homes to help tackle vacancy and dereliction. Since its introduction, local authorities have delivered some 600 additional social homes through the scheme.

The scheme provides a valuable opportunity to our local authorities to deliver new social homes and I am also aware that it can be a valuable tool for the work of the Vacant Homes Officers. Working with local authorities my Department is examining potential improvements to the Buy and Renew scheme.