James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Again, getting these voids back into play as quickly as possible is essential. Record funding is provided for the local authorities. There is inconsistency across them; there is no question about that. Some local authorities take the view of ongoing maintenance that when the property is vacated it is got back into a state where it can be re-let as quickly as possible. Other local authorities seem to take a considerable time assessing those properties and some carry out a very large amount of refurbishment work that quite frankly is not necessary. The property just needs to be brought back to a condition where it can be re-let. It should be in that condition anyway when it is being vacated, unless the previous tenants have done something untoward, which is very rare. In my experience, social housing tenants are excellent tenants. We are going to get under the hood in the local authorities where these delays are happening and ensure these voids are being brought back and that the best practice the best local authorities are carrying out becomes standard right across the country.

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