There are over 146,000 local authority social housing properties in the State. It is important that local authorities fulfil their legal obligations with regard to management and maintenance of this valuable State asset, ensure that their homes comply with relevant standards and that vacancy and turnaround times are kept to a minimum.
My Department is committed to supporting local authorities in the optimum management and maintenance of their housing stock and is working with them to continue to transition from a largely response based approach to a strategic planned maintenance approach based on stock condition surveys.
A national standardised stock condition survey template has been agreed, as has the implementation of a centrally hosted ICT system to support asset management. The ICT system has been procured by the Local Government Management Agency. The stock condition surveys have commenced and it is envisaged will be completed over a 4 to 5 year period.
My Department will continue to support local authorities under the existing programmes of stock improvement works, such as, Voids, the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme and Disabled Persons Grants while continuing the transition to a planned maintenance approach this year. It is equally important that local authorities ensure adequate budgetary provision is made for housing repairs and cyclical maintenance as part of their annual budget process.
Notwithstanding the local authority stock improvement programmes the regeneration of the Oliver Bond House complex by Dublin City Council (DCC) has my Departments full support. My Department provided Stage 1 Capital Appraisal approval to DCC for the redevelopment for the flats in Blocks L, M and N, on the 16th March 2022. This allowed for a guarantee of Departmental support whilst also tasking DCC to investigate a review of options to find the most suitable solution for the site.
The Department provided funding approval for four regeneration projects at Oliver Bond House in November 2023. These projects are as follows:
* N29-2-988 Social Housing Delivery
* N29-2-1057 Oliver Bond Community Centre
* N29-2-1058 Oliver Bond Precinct Improvement Works
* N29-2-1059 Oliver Bond Social Integration
DCC have advised that the Council has been undertaking works to improve the living conditions of the residents as well as the structure of the complex. Dublin City are engaging with local residents groups in this regard.
