Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As Deputy Boyd Barrett will be aware, it is long-standing practice of the Minister for Finance not to comment, certainly in any detail, in advance of the budget on taxation matters that might be the subject of budget decisions.

The Government is acutely aware of the difficulties in the housing market and the challenges they present for many people and families at the moment. The need to address vacancy and to ensure all viable housing stock is being used is a priority for the Government. In Housing for All, the Government has set out a suite of incentives available to encourage the reuse of properties and increase the supply of housing. Following from a commitment made in Housing for All, a new vacant homes tax was announced in the last budget and was legislated for in the Finance Act 2022.

This tax is only one part of a much wider suite of measures. Housing for All outlines a suite of measures under pathway 4 to address vacancy and efficient use of existing stock. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage launched a vacant homes action plan in January, which outlines the progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions being pursued to return as many vacant and derelict properties back to viable use as possible. More recently, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage announced further enhancements to the vacant property refurbishment grant with the aim of increasing the pace at which vacant and derelict properties are renovated for new housing. This grant is being increased from €30,000 to €50,000 for vacant properties and from €50,000 to €70,000 for derelict properties, extended to cover houses built up to 2007, and will be available for properties intended for rental as well as owner-occupied properties.

As regards dereliction, I understand that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has established a focused working group of local authority officials nominated by the County and City Management Association to examine the operation of the Derelict Sites Act. It is expected that the report of that group will be finalised shortly. Its recommendations will be considered once it is received.

See this speech in context