Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2022
174. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the level of assistance available to first-time house owners in respect of the purchase and renovation of old or derelict properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12116/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraHousing for All published in September 2021 provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations, with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. This strategy provides for a broad suite of measures and assistance including for first-time buyers.
In particular, in the context of addressing vacancy and and efficient use of existing stock, the strategy provides for the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund which will be delivered by local authorities for the provision of serviced sites for housing, to attract people to build their own homes and to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, enabling people to live in small towns and villages, in a sustainable way. Details of this scheme will be announced later this quarter.
In addition, Housing for All provides for the launching of a programme of Compulsory Purchase Orders to bring vacant units to the market for sale, as well as activating unused State owned properties for this purpose. Housing for All also recognises the potential to utilise relevant heritage building stock for residential purposes, and it is also anticipated funding will be made available under the new round of European Regional Development Fund to tackle vacancy and dereliction in towns.
Separately, my colleague Eamonn Ryan, TD, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment recently published the National Retrofit Plan, as part of the Climate Action Plan, which sets out ambitious plan for the retrofitting of a significant number homes by the end of 2030.
In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that it is increasing the funding made available since 2018 from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum from mid-2022 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a vacant homes officer to support the commitment in Housing for All to ensuring that vacant homes officers are full-time officers. Local authorities have been requested to arrange for the vacant homes officer position to become full-time by the end of Q2 2022 and to notify my Department accordingly. These vacant homes officers are in place in each local authority to assist in returning vacant properties to productive use as homes including for first-time buyers.
