Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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344. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider opening up the repair and lease scheme to the private market and not just to local authorities for a pilot period to increase the supply of housing and residential stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7462/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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The Repair and Leasing Scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding required to bring them up to the standard for rental property. The Local Authority, or approved housing body, pays for the repairs upfront and the home is taken into social housing stock by way of lease for between 5 and 25 years. The cost of repairs is offset against reduced lease payments to the property owner and therefore has a neutral cost to the Exchequer.

As the cost of repairs is recouped from the property owner through reduced lease payments, the model is not appropriate to the private rental market.