Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Griffin has raised this on numerous occasions, particularly with regard to County Kerry.

Housing for All published in September 2021 provides a new housing plan for Ireland to 2030 with the overall objective that every citizen in the State should have access to good quality homes through a steady supply of housing in the right locations with economic, social and environmental sustainability built into the system. This strategy provides for a broad suite of measures, including for first-time buyers. In particular, in the context of addressing vacancy and efficient use of existing stock, the strategy provides the Croí Cónaithe towns fund which will be delivered by local authorities for the provision of serviced sites for housing to attract people to build their own homes and to support the refurbishment of vacant properties, thus enabling people to live in the small towns and villages in a sustainable way. This pertains, in particular, to counties such as Kerry.

In addition, Housing for All provides for the launching of a programme of compulsory purchase orders to bring vacant units to the market for sale as well as activating unused State-owned properties for that purpose.

Housing for All also recognises the potential to utilise relevant heritage building stock for residential purposes. It is also anticipated that funding will be made available under the new round of the European Regional Development Fund to tackle vacancy and dereliction in towns. This is an issue that pertains, in particular, to rural Ireland where there are significant challenges of depopulation in certain parts of the country.

Again, I commend Kerry County Council on being one of only three local authorities to have availed of the full-time role of a vacancy officer. Having that role within the local authority will be a significant benefit in trying to unlock the potential the Government is trying to develop by way of our policy on vacancy and delivering for first-time buyers.

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