Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Housing for All commits to supporting local authorities to drive expanded take-up of the ongoing enhanced repair and leasing scheme (RLS). To this end, in July 2023, I increased the maximum cost of repairs allowable under this scheme from €60,000 (including VAT) to €80,000 (including VAT) per unit delivered.

The 2024 Housing for All target for RLS is 130 units. In January 2024, my Department issued targets for 2024 RLS delivery to each local authority, with a total target issued of 228 units. These targets were set following consultation with the local authorities and demonstrate the growing ambition for this scheme across local authorities.

The cost of RLS in respect of all local authorities to end 2023 is published on my Department’s website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#repair-and-leasing-scheme-rls.

The average duration of lease for units operational under the scheme at end 2023 is 18.91 years.

Waterford City and County Council is the leading local authority in delivering units under RLS. It participated in the original pilot scheme, commencing in October 2016. To end 2023, Waterford has delivered 312 homes under RLS, 56% of national delivery. This includes the largest RLS project to date, St Joseph’s House, Manor Hill, where 71 homes have been created in a previously vacant convent in a city centre location. The scheme is a key source of one and two-bedroom properties, which continue to form the highest percentage of social housing need. This is reflected in Waterford, where 48% of homes provided to end 2023 by RLS are one-bed units; with a further 37% providing 2-bed homes.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Local authorities are encouraged to acquire vacant/derelict properties to be upgraded as new, value-for-money social homes via the Buy & Renew Scheme. Since it was introduced in 2016, in excess of 900 properties have been delivered under this arrangement. The first table below shows the number of such units delivered as new social homes per annum since 2016 and the total cost. The second table shows the breakdown of such units across the local authorities. The costs as shown for delivering the units is subject to change as further renovation cost claims are received from local authorities.

Targets are not set for 2024 because alongside the acquisition and upgrade as new social homes of existing properties in need of refurbishment, in recent years an increasing number of local authorities are tackling more substantial projects involving derelict properties. This allows for local authorities to tackle dereliction where substantial construction work is involved and to produce further new social homes. This work is tackled alongside a local authority's programme of construction on green field sites. Alongside Buy & Renew acquisitions, it creates opportunities for local authorities to respond to more significant dereliction in town centres.