Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
705. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the number of vacant housing officers in each local authority, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16460/23]
View answer789. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the additional funding that has been made available to local authorities to ensure that their vacant homes officers are full-time; the amount of additional funding that was made available; the local authorities that have availed of the funding; and to provide a list of local authorities that have full-time vacant home officers. [17164/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 705 and 789 together.
Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All.
In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that funding, made available since 2018 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO), would be increased from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum, from mid-2022. This supports the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that the VHO role in each local authority is full-time. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of VHOs, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction. 30 out of 31 local authorities now have a full time VHO in place and I understand that recruitment is ongoing for the remaining post in Donegal County Council. The role of the VHO in each local authority is:
• To actively promote and lead the uptake within the local authority of various initiatives, schemes and funding programmes to address vacancy and bring vacant properties into residential use;
• To actively engage with owners of vacant properties and other relevant stakeholders and promote use of relevant schemes and supports to bring vacant properties into use;
• To collect, monitor and assess vacancy data locally and use that data to actively engage with property owners and promote schemes to encourage activation of properties; and
• Play a communication, promotion and advisory role both internally within the local authority and externally as a contact point for members of the public and key interested parties on vacant homes/properties.
In acknowledgement of the administrative overheads for local authorities in managing the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, the Department provides a supporting allocation of up to €180,000 to each local authority in respect of processing applications for both schemes, which are funded under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. 22 local authorities claimed support funding in 2022/23.
My Department is currently examining the resources needed to enable local authorities to carry out the important work of activating vacant and derelict properties. VHOs across local authorities will continue to be supported in their work by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department.
