The Government’s housing agency is to start buying homes to use for social housing.

Around 1,000 private properties will be assessed for suitability over the next two years.

They have been given a fund of €70m to buy properties to be used for social housing.

The Housing Agency have said they hope to buy more than 200 homes by the end of the year.

Conor Skehan chairperson of the agency has said they want to work quickly.

“The big thing we are trying to work at speed,” said Skehan.

“For instance, while all of the usual paperwork can take quite a long time, we propose leasing the house directly onto the local authority in the interim to get us through that period. So, speed of the essence for everybody.”