Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 January 2025
819. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to address the issue of vacancy in County Kerry; the measures he is taking to encourage increased registration of vacant properties and the collection of the vacant sites levy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1899/25]
View answer821. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant properties, by county, in the years 2019 to date, in tabular form. [1902/25]
View answerAddressing vacancy and dereliction and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority of Housing for All.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which was published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 of Housing for All and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. In April 2024, an update on the Action Plan was published which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available on the Department's website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/df86c-vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026/.
A key initiative under the Action Plan to address vacancy and dereliction has been the introduction of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. From May 2023, a grant of up to is available to support individual owners refurbish a vacant property into a home. Where the property is confirmed as derelict, up to a maximum of €70,000 in grant funding is available.
The Department publishes data on number of applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis and these publications include local authority breakdowns. The Quarter 3 2024 statistics were published on Monday, 21 October 2024 and can be accessed at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/4bbe4-vacant-property-refurbishment-grant-statistics/.
As part of the Action Plan, a CPO Activation Programme was launched requiring a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to identifying vacant and derelict properties and engaging with owners to bring those properties back into use. This includes the active use of compulsory purchase powers by local authorities.
This initiative is supported by a €150 million Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties for reuse or sale, using their compulsory purchase powers were necessary.
The Social Housing Capital Funding Programmes (Social Housing Investment Programme (SHIP) and the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS)) also support local authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to tackle vacancy and dereliction through the purchase and renewal of vacant buildings and blocks as new social homes.
In relation to the Vacant Sites Levy, local authorities are required to submit an annual return providing information on the implementation of the Vacant Site Levy under the provisions of the Urban Regeneration and Housing Act 2015 in their functional areas.
The Vacant Site Levy will be replaced by the Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT), which will come into effect on 1 February 2025. The Vacant Site Levy will remain payable for previous calendar years up to the end of 2024.
Data on the number of vacant properties is available from a number of sources such as Census and GeoDirectory publications. While varying levels and rates of vacancy are indicated in the different data sources, the overall trend is downwards and vacancy levels are reducing.
