Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will respond on the issue of voids. We detected some inconsistency across local authorities regarding the cost of refurbishment per unit and the turnaround times. We are looking closely at that in regard to measuring performance. Obviously where we have existing stock and assets that can be quickly turned around, that must be the priority for local authorities. Some have been very good and some have not been so good. We will be measuring those and future funding will be allocated based on good performance. It is a message for local authorities not to leave houses lying vacant while they have people on housing lists waiting to get into those houses. They should bring them back into beneficial use as soon as possible.

In recent years they might have had the valid complaint that they did not have the funding to do it. That is no longer the case because the funding has been provided in recent years and it will be provided again this year.