Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 6 September 2019
1994. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if additional funding will be provided in 2019 to local authorities in respect of the maintenance of council housing and the upgrading of vacant council houses to enable them to be refurbished and allocated to tenants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36437/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra1995. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if additional funding will be provided in 2019 to Cavan County Council in respect of the maintenance of council housing; if additional funding will be provided to enable the refurbishment of vacant council houses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36438/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1994 and 1995 together.
Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, provides that the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is a matter for each individual local authority. This includes the implementation of planned maintenance programmes and carrying out of responsive repairs and pre-letting repairs.
The Voids Programme, introduced in 2014 by my Department, provides additional support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. The purpose of the Voids Programme is to ensure that vacant units are actively targeted, with a view to minimising the turnaround and re-let time of these units and return them to use in an energy efficient condition.
Earlier this year, local authorities submitted to my Department details of their work proposals and related funding requirements for this programme in 2019. These proposals were evaluated and approval was given to proceed with works to 1,466 void properties with a remediation cost of some €27.3 million.
Cavan County Council sought approval for inclusion of 5 dwellings in the Voids programme for 2019. Approval was given to proceed with works to these 5 properties subject to the provision of a pre BER assessment and post works BER certificate. Given the availability of funding, the completion of the works is now a matter for the Council.
A group representing a number of local authorities is working to identify best practice in relation to housing stock maintenance and repairs, within the structure of the City and County Management Association (CCMA). My Department is engaging with the sub-group in relation to the development of a sustainable funding approach to housing stock maintenance and repairs and this will continue according as the sub-group’s work evolves further.
