I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 and 185 together.
Under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the management and maintenance of the local authority housing stock is the responsibility of the relevant housing authority. Statistics on local authority housing stock, including units that may be empty, are published annually by the Local Government Management Agency. The most recent statistics are in respect of 2012 and are available at the following link: http://www.lgma.ie/sites/default/files/service_indicators_2012_report_for_website_0.pdf.
My Department has allocated €30 million in 2014 to local authorities to support their work in bringing 1,960 vacant and boarded up units back into productive use, and in an energy efficient condition. The number of such units in each Local Authority area is set out in the table. I anticipate that this target will be achieved and it is a matter for each individual local authority to allocate these units to those on their social housing waiting lists.
Budget 2015 has given a further impetus to this area, and I envisage a further 1,000 vacant properties being returned to productive use through this additional funding.
Vacant Units to be returned to productive use in 2014
|
Local Authority
|
26
|
Carlow
|
15
|
Cavan
|
42
|
Clare
|
186
|
Cork City
|
155
|
Cork County
|
115
|
Donegal
|
371
|
Dublin City
|
147
|
Fingal
|
75
|
South Dublin
|
3
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
|
42
|
Galway City
|
62
|
Galway County
|
45
|
Kerry
|
67
|
Kildare
|
25
|
Kilkenny
|
27
|
Laois
|
15
|
Leitrim
|
86
|
Limerick
|
15
|
Longford
|
10
|
Louth
|
81
|
Mayo
|
53
|
Meath
|
11
|
Monaghan
|
31
|
Offaly
|
21
|
Roscommon
|
26
|
Sligo
|
66
|
Tipperary
|
48
|
Waterford
|
46
|
Westmeath
|
16
|
Wexford
|
32
|
Wicklow
|
1,960
|
Total
|