Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 July 2023
470. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has invited Cavan and Monaghan local authorities to make an application for the vacant properties (voids) programme; if such an application has been submitted; the total amount of funding his Department proposes to allocate to each authority; the expected timeframe for release of the funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35214/23]
View answerThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure that all of their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations, 2019. Local authority officials and elected members have a very important role to play in this regard by making adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and cyclical maintenance utilising the significant housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process.
Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the Voids Programme. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
I have approved €31 million in funding to support the return of 2,300 vacant local authority homes this year. Of this, €473,000 has been allocated to Cavan County Council to remediate 43 vacant properties and €74,179 has been allocated for Planned Maintenance. €363,000 has been allocated to Monaghan County Council to remediate 33 vacant properties and €59,018 has been allocated for Planned Maintenance. A programme of works has been submitted by both local authorities under this Programme, with the selection of these properties a matter for each individual local authority.
Work in relation to the 2023 Programme is ongoing, however, it will be later this year before significant recoupment claims are lodged with my Department. Full details in relation to 2023 output under this programme will be published on my Department’s website early in 2024.
