Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 July 2019
361. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the details of void houses by county over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28427/19]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to vacant local authority houses, which the National Oversight & Audit Commission (NOAC) reports on annually. In relation to the Deputy's query, the details sought are reflected in NOAC's Annual Performance Indicator Reports for the years 2014-2017. The most recent data is set out in the 2017 report, which is available on the NOAC website at the following link: http://noac.ie/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/NOAC-Performance-Indicators-Report-2017.pdf. The previous annual reports are also available on the NOAC website.
While local authorities are responsible for the management and maintenance of their own housing stock, it should be noted that the number of vacant properties is not static. As would be expected in the management of around 130,000 social homes, the position in relation to vacancies changes regularly, tenants move in and out.
My Department is continuing to engage with local authorities, to support them in returning both short and longer-term vacant properties to use as swiftly as possible, including through the Voids funding programme. Elected Councils also have a role to play in supporting this work by making adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and maintenance, utilising the housing rental income available to them.
