Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 May 2024
193. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reasons for unsuccessful/incomplete repair and lease applications since the beginning of the scheme, by year, by local authority area, in tabular form. [20977/24]
View answer194. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if any analysis into the reasons for unsuccessful repair and lease applications has been commissioned/undertaken by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20978/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 193 and 194 together.
Data on the repair and leasing scheme in respect of all local authorities to end Q4 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.
While my Department issues general guidance on the scheme, it has no direct role in deciding on individual applications. Local authorities determine eligibility for the scheme by taking account of local need, the suitability of dwellings, sustainable community considerations and value for money.
With the launch of the Housing for All Action Plan and the issuing of Housing Circular 34/2021 in October 2021, local authorities were requested to provide my Department with data on proposals that do not progress. This data is collated for high level analysis with a view to increasing uptake in the scheme. It is not a detailed statistical analysis. The data collected for years 2022 and 2023 outlined the reasons for projects not proceeding. These included;
• Application not suitable
• €60,000 funding insufficient
• Proposer misunderstood the scheme
• Delivery through a different scheme
• No social housing need in the specific area
The data gathered continues to be used by my Department to assess the current scheme and inform its future. It has assisted with the introduction of measures such as the increase in maximum cost of repairs from €60,000 to €80,000 per unit (both figures VAT inclusive) in July 2023 and the removal of the requirement that a property owner be unable to access other sources of funding (for certain categories of vacant properties).
