Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 September 2022
559. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the details of houses in Limerick city and county that have received funding under the voids programme in each of the years 2018 to 2021; and if any of these are still vacant. [42711/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.
Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authority's to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
Over the period 2018 - 2021 my Department has funded 328 units in Limerick City and County under the Voids Programme. This figure does not include homes which were returned to productive use by Limerick City and County Council using funding from its own resources or as part of the wider regeneration programme.
Local authorities will always have a certain level of vacancy in their housing stock. This will fluctuate over time, as tenancy surrender and re-letting of stock is an ongoing process. Therefore, ongoing data in relation to the occupancy status of properties previously funded under the voids programme is not collated by my Department.
