Irish Housing Minister Michael Finneran is due to speak at an event to celebrate the Government's new social housing leasing initiative scheme.

The scheme, which is supported by the Department of the Environment, allows local authorities and approved housing bodies, such as housing associations, to provide properties for social housing through leasing agreements. There are an estimated 56,000 people on local authority housing waiting lists.

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The initiative allows the local authorities to house people in need of housing in unsold affordable homes, by leasing the homes to housing associations for a period of five years. In order for properties to be considered they must be in an area of demonstrated housing need.

The event, which has been organised by Clúid Housing Association, will take place on Monday, February 1st at the Heritage Hotel in Portlaoise.

(NS/BMcc)