Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 September 2021
268. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of private homes purchased by local authorities and added to the social housing stock through the buy and renew scheme for Waterford city and county in each of the past five years and each quarter in 2020 and to date in 2021. [44636/21]
View answerThe Buy & Renew Scheme makes capital funding available to local authorities to facilitate them in acquiring and remediating vacant properties that may be suitable for social housing.
Housing for All has a strong emphasis on tackling vacancy and I have asked local authorities to increasingly target vacant and derelict properties that can be brought back to use as part of new public housing delivery, particularly where good value for money can be obtained and I have assured them of my Department's support in this regard. Waterford City and County Council is actively pursuing opportunities to deliver new social housing through acquiring and remediating vacant properties and utilises the Buy & Renew Scheme for this purpose, as well as the Repair & Lease Scheme.
Below is a breakdown of the number of properties brought back into use under the Buy & Renew Scheme by Waterford City and County Council in each of the past five years and for each quarter in 2020 and to date in 2021. Approved Housing Bodies also use the Buy & Renew Scheme with funding through the Capital Assistance Scheme, to purchase and remediate vacant properties and such delivery carried out in collaboration with the Council, is also included in the breakdown below.
|
Year |
LA |
AHBs |
|
2016 |
2 |
0 |
|
2017 |
31 |
0 |
|
2018 |
5 |
0 |
|
2019 |
3 |
14 |
|
Q1 2020 |
3 |
0 |
|
Q2 2020 |
1 |
0 |
|
Q3 2020 |
1 |
0 |
|
Q4 2020 |
1 |
6 |
|
Q1 2021 |
4 |
0 |
|
Total |
51 |
20 |
