Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 February 2021
326. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the difference between the standard refurbishment option and the homeless refurbishment option in relation to voids. [10128/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince 2014, Exchequer funding has been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding is increasingly targeted to support local authority's to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
In relation to the Standard Void and Homeless Void options, these were introduced in 2020 based on the level of funding made available under the July Stimulus Programme (Voids) and also to achieve the maximum impact across all local authorities.
The Standard Voids option was a fast tracked standard refurbishment programme with a maximum funding level of €12,500 per unit. These units were to be relet in 2020 to individuals and families on the social housing list.
Properties refurbished under the homeless voids category were for allocation to households deemed to be long-term homeless by the local authority. The maximum funding provision under this category was €20,000 per unit which reflected the extra works/supports required over and above the normal standard voids funding stream.
My Department is currently in discussions with the local authority sector, through the CCMA, on the detail of the 2021 voids funding programme and allocations to individual local authorities for 2021 will issue in due course.
