Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 March 2022
186. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of full-time vacant homes officers that are currently employed across Ireland; the target number of full-time vacant homes officers to be employed; his views on the role and importance of vacant homes officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11573/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra207. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant housing officers employed on a full-time and part-time basis by local authority to help reduce vacancy levels; if these roles are exclusive to this work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12085/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 207 together.
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 the Department accordingly. I expect that each local authority will have at least one full-time vacant homes officer working in their local authority. My Department understand that there are currently in the region of 3 full-time and 34 part-time vacant homes officers working in local authorities.
The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of vacant homes officers, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development.
