I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 146 together.
Since 2018, my Department has made funding of €50,000 per annum available to each local authority to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a vacant homes officer. Housing for All commits to ensuring that vacant homes officers are full-time officers. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development.
In October 2021, my Department communicated with each local authority on the continuation of this funding into 2022 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office supporting local authorities funding of a vacant homes officer.
My Department has now communicated further with local authorities regarding making the Vacant Homes Officers a full-time position to focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction to support the regeneration of town centres.
The status position on vacant homes officers in local authorities is set out in the table below.
Table of Vacant Homes Officers in Local Authorities
Local Authority
|
No. of Vacant Homes Officers
|
Full-time
|
Part-time
|
Carlow
|
1
|
|
1
|
Cavan
|
1
|
|
1
|
Clare
|
1
|
1
|
|
Cork City
|
1
|
|
1
|
Cork County
|
2
|
|
2
|
Donegal
|
1
|
|
1
|
Dublin City
|
3
|
1
|
2
|
Dun Laoghaire
|
1
|
|
1
|
Fingal
|
1
|
|
1
|
Galway City
|
1
|
|
1
|
Galway County
|
1
|
|
1
|
Kerry
|
1
|
1
|
|
Kildare
|
1
|
|
1
|
Kilkenny
|
1
|
|
1
|
Laois
|
1
|
|
1
|
Leitrim
|
1
|
|
1
|
Limerick
|
1
|
|
1
|
Longford
|
1
|
|
1
|
Louth
|
1
|
|
1
|
Mayo
|
1
|
|
1
|
Meath
|
2
|
|
2
|
Monaghan
|
2
|
|
2
|
Offaly
|
1
|
|
1
|
Roscommon
|
1
|
|
1
|
Sligo
|
2
|
|
2
|
South Dublin
|
1
|
|
1
|
Tipperary
|
1
|
|
1
|
Waterford
|
1
|
|
1
|
Westmeath
|
1
|
|
1
|
Wexford
|
1
|
|
1
|
Wicklow
|
1
|
|
1
|
|
37
|
3
|
34
|