Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
709. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide a breakdown by local authority of the number of CPOs of vacant properties completed, ongoing and under consideration, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16472/23]
View answerPathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas. While the reasons for vacancy are often complex, the re-use and regeneration of vacant properties in cities, towns, villages and rural areas can provide much needed housing while also transforming areas and the communities living in them.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I launched in January, outlines the progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return as many vacant properties back to viable use as possible. A copy of the Plan can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/df86c-vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026/
As part of the Action Plan, my Department recently launched a new CPO Activation Programme, with targets identified for each local authority. This Programme includes guidance and supports for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers to acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.
Under this Programme, local authorities are now required to adopt a proactive, planned and systematic approach to the identification and activation of vacant and derelict properties. Such an approach is already in place in a number of local authorities. The key objective is the activation of vacant and derelict properties, bringing them into residential use as quickly as possible. The main steps of the Programme include:
• identification of vacant and derelict properties,
• identification of and engagement with owners,
• communication regarding the various schemes and measures in place to support bringing the property back into use, and
• where owners of vacant and derelict properties cannot be identified or where they are unwilling to engage, use of available legislative powers to compulsory purchase or acquire such properties using either the Housing Act,1966 or the Derelict Sites Act, 1990.
Each local authority will be required, on an ongoing basis, to provide data in relation to the properties entering the Programme, activity undertaken and progress made, along with outcomes. My Department will publish the relevant data in due course.
