James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputy. The programme for Government commits to the introduction of a new voids programme and work is under way in my Department to develop and roll out that programme. As Minister, my focus is on building on the strong progress made over recent years in tackling local authority vacancy levels, which was supported and enabled by significant Exchequer funding for my Department over the past ten years and in particular since 2020. In total, more than €360 million has been recouped to local authorities since 2014 under the voids programme, which has supported the refurbishment and re-letting of 25,672 dwellings.

Given the very positive impact of that investment it is expected local authorities should have dealt with legacy vacancy issues by now. They should therefore be in a strong position with respect to long-term vacancy and be able to further the transition to a strategic and planned approach to stock management and maintenance, with the ongoing support of my Department. With this in mind, it is my intention the new voids programme will have a renewed focus on prompt turnaround and re-letting of vacant units by focusing only on those works necessary to ensure compliance with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. Non-essential works should be carried out under the local authority’s planned maintenance programme informed by stock condition surveys, whereby all housing components are on an inspection, repair and replacement cycle.

While the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock is legally a matter for each individual local authority under section 58 of the Housing Act 1966, the approach being developed is necessary to ensure a strategic approach to the management and maintenance of the housing stock informed by stock condition surveys is in place and that vacancies are turned around quickly.

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