Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
248. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the reason that his Department has had no engagement with the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance concerning the collection of vacant homes data given recent conflicting media reports. [27454/22]
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. The strategy sets out, over four pathways, a broad suite of measures to achieve its policy objectives together with a financial commitment of in excess of €4 billion per annum.
Housing for All commits to a range of measures to address vacancy and maximise the use of existing housing stock including work underway by the Department of Finance through the current Local Property Tax returns to assess the present vacancy situation. Once collated and analysed this data will provide a new data set on vacant homes including for my Department and local authorities. In addition, the vacant property tax consideration is being pursued by the Department of Finance and I understand that my colleague the Minister for Finance will consider the vacant property tax in consultation with colleagues, including myself as Minister, before reverting to Government with proposals.
