I propose to take Questions Nos. 623, 779 and 796 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 ensure that vacant homes officers are full-time. 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.
Local authorities were 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. Of the 31 Local Authorities, 18 Vacant Homes Officers are now on a full-time basis, with the remaining local authorities in the process of transitioning the role to being full time. The Department is continuing the ongoing engagement with the remaining local authorities on the process underway to ensure that full-time Vacant Homes Officers are in place. Details of individual local authorities are contained in the table below.
The work of the Vacant Homes Officers is aligned and integrated with the roll out of Housing for All and the Town Centre First Policy, and will include:
- Overseeing a coordinated approach to Housing for All pathways to addressing vacancy and efficient use of existing stock through working closely with the multi-disciplinary technical team in the relevant local authority, to support implementation of Towns Centre First policy;
Actively leading uptake within the local authority of various Departmental schemes such as:
a. Social Housing Capital Delivery Schemes e.g. Buy and Renew Scheme;
b. Repair and Leasing Scheme;
c. New programme for the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of vacant properties to secure for sale on the open market; and
d. Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund focused on towns and villages
- Actively monitor and assess vacancy data locally to support development of associated targets for vacancy reduction, including in specific urban areas and neighbourhoods
- Advisory role both internally for local authority teams and externally as a contact point for members of the public and key interested parties on vacant homes/properties to assist, inform, provide and promote expert up to date advice on bringing vacant properties back into use.
|
Local Authority
|
Vacant Homes Officer Full-time
|
|
Carlow
|
In Transition
|
|
Cavan
|
Yes
|
|
Clare
|
Yes
|
|
Cork City
|
Yes
|
|
Cork county
|
In Transition
|
|
Donegal
|
In Transition
|
|
Dublin City
|
Yes
|
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
|
Yes
|
|
Fingal
|
Yes
|
|
Galway City
|
In Transition
|
|
Galway County
|
Yes
|
|
Kerry
|
In Transition
|
|
Kildare
|
Yes
|
|
Kilkenny
|
In Transition
|
|
Laois
|
In Transition
|
|
Leitrim
|
Yes
|
|
Limerick
|
Yes
|
|
Longford
|
In Transition
|
|
Louth
|
Yes
|
|
Mayo
|
Yes
|
|
Meath
|
Yes
|
|
Monaghan
|
Yes
|
|
Offaly
|
In Transition
|
|
Roscommon
|
Yes
|
|
Sligo
|
In Transition
|
|
South Dublin
|
Yes
|
|
Tipperary
|
Yes
|
|
Waterford
|
Yes
|
|
Westmeath
|
In Transition
|
|
Wexford
|
In Transition
|
|
Wicklow
|
In Transition
|
