Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
173. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when the 2023 allocation will be made to local authorities for the voids programme, given the importance of this scheme in bringing vacant local authority homes back to habitable use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16010/23]
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.
Notwithstanding this, my Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the Voids Programme. This funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.
From 2014 to 2022, expenditure of some €290 million was recouped to local authorities under the Voids Programme which funded the return to active use of 20,834 properties nationwide. Local authorities also provide significant funding from their own resources to address the level of vacancy within the social housing stock.
My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area. Funding allocations under the 2023 Programme will be announced shortly.
It is important to note that given the very significant investment into the Voids Programme over recent years my Department and local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance, to a planned maintenance approach as referenced in Housing for All, policy objective 20.6. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response.
