Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
508. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide details of the proposed CPO and sale of derelict and vacant properties by the Housing Agency; the amount of funding that has been made available for 2023; the targets for 2022; if this is part of a Croí Connaithe or in addition to it; and if these properties will be in cities, towns or both. [1078/22]
View answer532. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of staff that have been assigned to the new vacancy unit; the amount that has been allocated to the unit; the full role and remit of the unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1586/22]
View answer558. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the amount of funding that was provided to each local authority in 2021 to support compulsory purchase orders of houses or buildings suitable for housing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1952/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 508, 532 and 558 together.
Housing for All commits to a range of measures to address vacancy and maximise the use of existing housing stock such as plans to introduce a new programme for the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of vacant properties to ensure their use for residential purposes. Such a new programme for CPO of vacant properties is expected to support a broader programme of affordable housing in order to maximise opportunities to return vacant properties to productive use.
The CPO programme is to be supported by a bridging finance facility from the Housing Finance Agency for property acquisitions. In addition, a central advisory service is to be established in The Housing Agency to assist Local Authorities with the process. The objective is for Local Authorities to acquire at least 2,500 vacant units by 2026 and present them to the market for sale. This advisory support, will be in addition to the Vacant Homes unit being established within my Department, with the Principal Officer already appointed, to co-ordinate the range of measures under the Housing for All pathway to addressing vacancy and efficient use of existing stock.
The detailed arrangements for this CPO programme are currently being developed, with aim of advancing it this year, and will include any synergies with other measures also being considered. It will build on the experience of many Local Authorities that already utilise CPO acquisitions in their delivery of new social homes through the Buy and Renew scheme. As part of this process, my Department is meeting with Vacant Homes Officers later this month, and this will enable targets to be set for 2022 and 2023.
My Department does not have a scheme that specifically funds CPOs by local authorities and therefore such data is not collated by my Department but may be available directly from the local authorities, but CPO may have been used by authorities as part of their programmes, particularly Buy and Renew.
