Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 November 2021
41. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the incentives he favours to help bring derelict houses back into use as homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54832/21]
View answer61. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when he plans to introduce new measures to help bring derelict houses back into use as homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54831/21]
View answer82. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the new proposals in Housing for All which relate to the power of local authorities to address abandoned buildings in urban villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55078/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 61 and 82 together.
This Government has recently published Housing for All which outlines in detail our ambitious plan to deliver a sustainable housing system for Ireland. Core to this plan are four pathways, one of which relates to addressing vacancy and the efficient use of housing stock. I have been clear that at a time of such housing need, it is imperative that houses already available throughout the state are fully utilised. This makes sense economically, environmentally and for the benefit of our cities, towns and villages.
To this end, Housing for All commits to establishing and funding a Towns Centre First policy in conjunction with the Department of Rural and Community Development and aligned to the National Planning Framework. The Town Centre First policy will act as a strategic guide to town centre planning, at the heart of which is the promotion of residential occupancy in towns and villages.
The new Croi Conaithe (Towns) Fund will provide serviced sites to enable refurbishment of vacant properties and attract new building in the centre of small towns and villages in line with the National Planning Framework. A pathfinder programme in this area aims to make available as many as 2,000 sites for homes by 2025.
We will also launch a Compulsory Purchase Order programme, led by Local Authorities, in order to maximise the opportunity to return vacant properties to productive use. The plan also brings a renewed focus on ensuring that state owned properties are either reactivated or placed on the market.
In addition, more than €1.8bn has been allocated across the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) and Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) programmes towards projects to regenerate metropolitan areas and towns across the country.
Finally, the Government has committed in Housing for All to examine the introduction of sanctions, possibly through the introduction of a Vacant Sites Tax, for non-use of residential property. The Local Property Tax returns currently underway will provide important data to inform these policy decisions moving forward.
