Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2012
185 Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of vacant local authority houses in County Louth either awaiting repair or awaiting an allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10178/12]
View answerEach local authority is responsible for the effective and efficient management and maintenance of its social housing stock. The detailed information sought is not available in my Department. Information relating to local authority housing stock, including the level of vacant local authority dwellings, is collected annually as part of the Local Government Management Agency's review of local authority service indicators. Electronic copies of the reports, including the most recent report for 2010, are available on the Local Government Management Agency's website —www.lgma.ie.
Under the Department's Social Housing Investment Programme, local authorities are allocated capital funding each year in respect of a range of measures to improve the standard and overall quality of their social housing stock. Given the constraints on new local authority housing supply, it is important that the existing stock of local authority housing is available and in fit condition to meet housing need. Under the allocation to be made in respect of this year's programme there is a particular focus on returning vacant properties to productive use. I intend to make an announcement in relation to allocations under the programme in early March.
