Vacant Properties

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024

Thursday, 18 January 2024

Questions (191, 192, 193)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to indicate if known, the extent to which new housing developments have been completed at various sites throughout the country, private or affordable, which have not been occupied as of yet despite the fact that many houses from such sites will become available to the local authorities via Part 5 and 8; whether any particular reason has been cited as being responsible for the continued lack of availability in respect of such houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2106/24]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

192. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which housing developments at various locations throughout the country remain unoccupied given the urgent necessity to make such accommodation available for occupancy at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2107/24]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the extent to which completed housing estates remain unoccupied throughout the country for whatever reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2108/24]

Written answers

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage

I propose to take Questions Nos. 191, 192 and 193 together.

Housing for All is the Government’s plan to increase the supply of housing to an average of 33,000 per year over the next decade. This includes the delivery of 90,000 social homes, 36,000 affordable purchase homes and 18,000 cost rental homes. Housing for All is supported by an investment package of over €4bn per annum, through an overall combination of €12bn in direct Exchequer funding, €3.5bn in funding through the Land Development Agency and €5bn funding through the Housing Finance Agency.

My Department publishes comprehensive programme level statistics on a quarterly basis on social housing delivery activity by local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) in each local authority. This data is available to the end of Quarter 3 2023, and is published on the statistics page of my Department’s website, at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/6d316-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/?referrer=http://www.housing.gov.ie/housing/social-housing/local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics

My Department also publishes the Social Housing Construction Status Report (CSR). The CSR provides details of social housing developments and their location that have been completed, are under construction or are progressing through the various stages of the design and tender processes. The most recent publication was for Quarter 3 2023. All Construction Status Reports are available at the following link:www.gov.ie/en/collection/cb885-social-housing-construction-projects-status-reports/

A version of the CSR file can also be downloaded for analysis of completions, locations, approvals stage etc at the link below: Social Housing Construction Status Report Q3 2023 - Dataset - data.gov.ie - data.gov.ie/dataset/social-housing-construction-status-report-q3-2023

My Department does not hold data on the number of completed houses not yet occupied. The oversight and practical management of social housing waiting lists, including the allocation of properties, is solely a matter for the relevant local authority in accordance with the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, and associated Regulations.