Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2021
61. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of properties brought back into use in County Cavan by the voids stimulus programme in 2020; and the estimated remaining housing stock that could be brought into use in the county by the scheme. [23002/21]
View answerAs at the 31st December, 2020 Cavan County Council had remediated 42 properties under the 2020 Voids Stimulus Programme.
My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work remediating vacant social housing properties in 2021. In preparation for this year’s programme correspondence issued to all local authorities requesting they provide figures on the total number of vacant units within their social housing stock as at January 2021. This process will help inform funding requirements and allocations for this year’s programme. A further communication in respect of the 2021 voids programme will issue to all local authorities shortly.
It is important to note that my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance to a planned maintenance approach. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response. My Department will support these work programmes by ensuring that the funding available under the various stock improvement programmes are aligned with this approach.
