A Laois TD is encouraging County Councils to make more use of the Repair and Leasing Scheme to supply more housing.
Fine Gael’s Charlie Flanagan was speaking as figures show a low uptake in use of the Repair and Leasing scheme in some local authority areas and he has suggested that it could be promoted better.
Under the scheme which is part of the government’s housing plan, Rebuilding Ireland, owners are assisted by bringing vacant properties back into use as social homes.
Where a property requires repairs to bring it up to the standard for required for rented properties, the Repair and Leasing Scheme will pay for the repairs up-front in return for the property being made available to be used as social housing.
This will be for a period of at least five years under either a direct lease or Rental Availability Arrangement with the local authority.
The last census showed a significant high level of vacant properties across the county 2,583 vacant properties in Laois
Deputy Flanagan said: “An analysis of the figures shows that some councils performed well under the scheme.
“Among them was Waterford City and County Council which availed of €1,199,054 in total funding in 2020 for repairs and other work to properties so they could be used for social housing.
“This amounts to 45% of the total funding drawn down from the scheme for 2020.
“There is definitely scope here for County Councils to utilise the scheme more to avail of funding to bring more social homes into operation.”
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