Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 October 2023
132. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will provide related to a Government-funded scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44533/23]
View answerIn January 2023, I announced details regarding a third round of funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). Supporting key objectives of Housing for All, Town Centre First, and the Vacant Homes Action Plan, this round of URDF support has been specifically designed to address long term vacancy and dereliction across URDF eligible cities and towns.
This will be achieved through the provision of a €150 million fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties (residential and/or commercial) and to carry out any associated works needed to de-risk or improve the property to make it more attractive for re-use or sale. The fund would then be replenished from the proceeds received from the end use/user thereby, allowing the local authority to put in place a rolling programme of acquisitions in order to tackle long term vacancy and dereliction without recourse to borrowing and the associated financial risk.
In July 2023, following consultation with the Local Authority sector, including Wexford County Council, I announced details of each Local Authority's Approved Acquisition Programme, funding allocations and arrangements for the third round of funding under the URDF.
As part of this announcement, Wexford County Council was awarded €6.5 million in URDF funding to help tackle vacancy and dereliction in their URDF eligible areas, which are Wexford Town, New Ross and Enniscorthy. As a one-off measure to encourage early activity under the programme and a demonstration of Government commitment to tackling the long term vacancy and dereliction issue in our towns and cities, Wexford County Council also received €1,300,000 of their funding allocation by way of forward funding.
Wexford County Council initially identified 216 properties as suitable for acquisition under the programme, with a total estimated acquisition cost of €26,374,167. The initial focus of the approved Acquisition Programmes is on tackling vacant or derelict buildings located within town centre areas that will provide, as part of their ultimate end use, some element of residential use. On this basis, 169 of the properties submitted by Wexford County Council across all their URDF eligible towns have been prioritisied for acquisition and placed on the approved acquisition programme. It is not the case that properties identified have been refused but rather they are not prioritisied for acquisition at this time.
As set out in Circular URDF 03/2023, I am happy to consider any submission from Wexford County Council making a strong case for the inclusion of any of the properties not currently included on their acquisition programme. Recent correspondence from Wexford County Council indicates that the council have no additional properties they wish to include in their approved programme at this time. Wexford County Council are now being encouraged to proceed with tackling the 169 properties included on their acquisition programme.
