James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy again for raising the question. I assure him the Government commitment is there to ensure we have a planned maintenance programme for our local authority stock. The largest-ever voids programme was funded by the previous Government in 2020 and the Department provided uncapped funding for those dwellings vacant for more than 12 months in 2020. Subsequently it was acknowledged that legacy vacancy should have been dealt with and a more streamlined programme has been implemented to support the works necessary to meet rental standards. We want to encourage local authorities to have a consistent basis of turning these voids around as quickly as possible. Some local authorities are very effective and some not so much. Legacy vacancies should have been resolved. There is little or no reason for these voids not to be turned around as quickly as possible when they are vacated. Works carried out should be what is necessary to turn those voids around, whereas the challenge is some local authorities are taking significant time to address them by carrying out substantial works that quite frankly are not necessary to re-let a property.

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