Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

765. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will consider an exemption to the requirement for a property to be vacant for a minimum of 12 months in order to avail of the Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) in circumstances where a person has passed away or moved to a nursing home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29230/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Repair and Leasing Scheme is one of a number of Government initiatives aimed at tackling vacancy. Under this scheme, a loan of up to €80,000 per unit is available to bring properties that have been vacant for over one year up to rental standards. The renovated home is then leased to the local authority or an AHB to provide social housing with the loan repaid as a reduction in the lease payment made to the property owner.

The loan provided is to enable a vacant property to be repaired and refurbished to meet the minimum rental standards. The same level of works are not envisaged in properties that have been recently inhabited and it is therefore not proposed to make changes to the requirement that the property be vacant for a minimum of one year.

If a property owner wishes to make a property that has been vacant for less than one year available for social housing, it is open to them to consider the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) scheme or the Rental Accommodation Scheme (RAS). Further information on these schemes is available from your local authority or from my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-housing-local-government-and-heritage/publications/social-housing-support-provided-by-local-authorities/.