Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 February 2024
289. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the funding available for the Voids Programme for 2024 and when allocations will be made to local authorities for this year's programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4896/24]
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 supplement the local authority funding available for the preparation of vacant properties for re-letting. The 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.
Budget 2024 has provided €31 million to the programme this year and funding allocations under Planned Maintenance/Voids will be announced in due course. Notwithstanding the voids funding being provided by my Department, local authorities have a responsibility to provide adequate housing maintenance budgets for 2024 and this parallel work by local authorities is essential for the development of the planned maintenance approach, which is an objective of Housing for All.
To that end, my Department and local authorities are continuing 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.
