One landlord has 241 properties linked to rent benefit scheme

Some private landlords and firms are making millions of euro from the taxpayer every year through the housing assistance payment scheme — including one landlord who has 241 properties linked to the system.

The Department of Housing confirmed the figures just days after it emerged that the amount of money taxpayers are giving private landlords under the scheme has soared from just €390,000 in 2014 to €276m last year.