Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
297. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason 60 social housing units in the social housing stock of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council remain unoccupied despite a large social housing waiting list; if additional funding will be provided to ensure that these homes are prepared for new tenancies and occupied by April 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9676/21]
View answerWhile my Department is focused on ensuring that existing housing stock is utilised to its fullest extent, the management and maintenance including the re-letting of newly vacated homes of local authority housing stock is a matter for each local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council (DLR) has advised my Department they receive approx. 10-20 units per month for re-let. DLR has advised that the majority of properties that become vacant are re-let within 12 weeks following completion of a standard list of works. A small number require substantial works.
DLR has confirmed that the majority of the current unoccupied units require standard works and are being prepared for re-let within the 12 week time-frame.
For homes that required substantial refurbishment work or have been vacant for extended periods of time my Department provided additional funding over and above the standard voids funding under the Covid-19 Voids programme and July Stimulus Funding programme. DLR availed of these programmes which allowed them to bring some long-term voids back into use.
