
Westmeath County Council paid the highest sum.
Local authorities in the midlands have spent over €23.5 million on social housing leases from private owners in the past four years.
Westmeath County Council footed the biggest bill, just short of €10.5 million, followed by Offaly who paid out €7.3 million and Laois at €5.8 million.
The largest yearly outlay in the region was in 2021, when around €7.2 million of taxpayers' money was used.
Aontú Leader and Meath-West TD, Peadar Tóibín says a different approach is needed: