The Housing Minister is being urged to extend the 'Repair and Lease' scheme to Co Louth.

Fianna Fáil TD Declan Breathnach made the call as the scheme is currently being rolled out in Carlow and Waterford.

The scheme will provide funding for property owners to repair vacant and unused homes, and make them available for families on local authority waiting lists.

Deputy Breathnach said: "Louth is currently experiencing an acute housing shortage which is having a detrimental impact on families. It is leading to increased rents, particularly in the areas closest to Dublin. The knock on effect of this is that people can't find suitable accommodation and many families are being forced to move away from areas that they have lived in for years.

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"I have long argued that the Government needs to implement a scheme to help refurbish derelict buildings in Louth to help address this housing shortage. The preliminary 2016 census results show that there are 5,005 vacant units in County Louth alone. These should be used to help accommodate people on the housing waiting list. This in turn will free up homes in the private rental sector which will help drive down rental costs.

"Many of the derelict buildings across Louth were inherited by people who simply cannot afford to invest the necessary money to bring them up to a habitable standard."

(CD/LM)