Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
684. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has considered revising upwards the terms of the repair and leasing scheme to provide a greater incentive to property owners to convert derelict houses into available homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15075/21]
View answerThe Repair and Leasing Scheme (RLS) was developed to assist private property owners and local authorities or approved housing bodies (AHBs) to harness the accommodation potential that exists in vacant dwellings across Ireland. Subject to the suitability of the dwelling for social housing, the cost of the necessary repairs will be met upfront by the local authority or an AHB with the cost of the repairs being recovered from the property owner by offsetting it against the lease payment.
At end 2020, a total of 234 dwellings had been brought back into use under the scheme across a range of dwelling types, including over the shop properties, former bedsits, city centre terraced houses, and one off rural dwellings. Data in relation to dwellings delivered by each local authority under RLS are available on my Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/6060e-overall-social-housing-provision/#repair-and-leasing-scheme-rls.
Given the value of the scheme to local authorities and its role in tackling vacancy, it is a key objective to increase delivery under the scheme. Therefore, I increased the RLS funding limit of €40,000 to €60,000 for all properties in November 2020. I am confident that the increase in the maximum funding available will result in additional output under the scheme, as well as having additional benefits in terms of regeneration, employment and investment in local areas. The budget allocation for RLS in 2021 is €11 million, targeting the delivery of 170 homes.
