I propose to take Questions Nos. 758, 759, 835 and 836 together.
Since the Buy and Renew Scheme was introduced, my Department has assisted local authorities to purchased over 750 homes for social housing use. Nationally, excluding the 4 Dublin local authorities, the average cost to deliver one of these homes has been c.€183k, within the 4 Dublin local authority areas the cost is c.€267k, both averages include the purchase cost and the cost for the necessary improvement works to the properties to make them suitable for social housing use. As my Department does not collate statistical information with regard to bedroom numbers broken down per unit, this information is not available.
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 there is not an adverse impact on the local property market and I have assured them of my Department's support in this regard.