Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dail Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes that:

— the Government aims to minimise the level of vacancy in every local authority area, and this is reflected in a decade of Exchequer investment in addressing long term vacancy, while acknowledging that there will always be a level of vacancy in the system, as tenancies end for various reasons and homes are prepared for reletting;

— significant progress has been made over the past 10 years to address long term vacant local authority homes, which has been supported by Government funding of over €360 million;

— funding was ramped up considerably in 2020 to particularly tackle legacy voids and begin the transition to planned maintenance;

— the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) has found that across the local Government sector, the level of vacant local authority homes is only 2.8 per cent, the lowest rate in many years, reflecting the success of Government's approach;

— there is no cap on the amount that can be spent per home, provided the maximum average of €11,000 is maintained across the works programme;

— in addition, local authorities can complete the suite of works under the Energy Efficiency Retrofit Programme (EERP) in parallel, up to a maximum of €48,850 per unit, increasing the overall funding available per unit as compared to the pre-2020 position;

— local authority homes are in general wholly owned by local authorities, which are encouraged to ring-fence some of their own resources from housing rents and other sources to the maintenance and protection of these homes;

— the Voids Programme operates on the same basis as all other Exchequer funded programmes;

— the transition to a programme of planned maintenance began in 2022, and aims to provide a sustainable model of management and maintenance to proactively address the level of maintenance requests annually;

— the commencement of stock condition surveys funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which are supported by the very recent roll out of a dedicated Information and Communications Technology system which will capture stock condition data and provide for informed work programmes and strategic asset management across all 31 local authorities;

— the funding available in 2025 for planned maintenance is a 100 per cent increase on 2024, and it is expected to increase further over the coming years as the shift to planned maintenance continues; and

— local authorities determine their priority works programme based on the condition of their units and the available funding, and that stock surveys are key part of this decision-making at local level; further notes that: — addressing vacancy across the housing sector, both public and private, has been and remains a key priority of Government;

— providing good quality homes that meet the relevant standards in the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 is another key priority, which the transition to planned maintenance seeks to support;

— the EERP for local authority homes aims to increase the energy efficiency of those homes, increasing comfort levels and reducing energy costs for tenants;

— staff issues, including the nature of employment in local authorities and requirements for Garda clearance where relevant are the operational responsibility of local authority chief executives;

— maximum flexibility in terms of delegated sanction is already in place, within the framework of the Public Spending Code;

— the allocation of social homes is a local authority function under section 10 of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009 and the Social Housing Allocation Regulations 2011 and requires several factors to be considered; and

— NOAC publishes a report on vacancy matters, including turnaround times, annually; and highlights that: — over 13,100 vacant local authority homes have been returned to active use since 2020, aided by Exchequer funding of over €189 million;

— since 2021, 9,092 homes were retrofitted under the new EERP;

— funding for the EERP has increased from €17.9 million in 2021 to almost €90 million in 2024, demonstrating the importance the Government places on this programme;

— over 2,350 stock surveys have been recorded on the new asset management system;

— dedicated teams are in place in both the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the Local Government Management Agency to support this work; and

— the Programme for Government commits to a new Voids Programme, with an emphasis on shorter turnaround times, and that the transition to rolling planned maintenance will support this.".

The Government will make it clear that the concerns being raised are in fact being addressed through various stock improvement programmes run by the Department and the steps being taken to move from a response-based approach to a planned and strategic approach to the management and maintenance of the local authority social housing stock informed by stock condition surveys.

The Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that the level of vacant local authority housing stock is kept to the minimum possible at all times. Let me start by acknowledging the progress we have already made in addressing vacancy. Over the last decade, there has been sustained and significant Exchequer funding committed to improving the condition, availability and occupancy of local authority housing stock. Over the last ten years, over 25,600 formerly vacant units have been brought back into productive use supported by Exchequer funding of over €361 million. The financial support from central government, channelled through voids funding, has allowed local authorities to target long-term vacant units and carry out essential works. Without this targeted investment, many of these homes could have remained idle, risking further deterioration and compounding the problem.

I also want to mention the work of the National Oversight and Audit Commission, NOAC, relating to the performance indicators in local authority housing stock. Its most recent findings indicate a welcome reduction in local authority housing vacancy rates to 2.8%, a notable and commendable achievement. To put this in perspective, a vacancy rate of under 3% in a housing system as large and diverse as the local government sector reflects both the commitment and effectiveness of our local authorities. That said, this figure must not be seen as a conclusion, but as a milestone. We are making progress and we want to continue to strengthen planned maintenance regimes, and to build even greater capacity at the local level.

The Department undertook a review of the issue last year which identified some 1,900 homes that could have been put forward by the sector for inclusion in the Department’s voids programme. This is because the issue of vacancy is a continuous process, with tenancy surrender and the re-letting of homes ongoing throughout the year. It is also of note that some homes currently vacant are not voids, but vacant as a result of them being new turnkeys or second-hand acquisitions awaiting letting, currently under repair or earmarked for demolition in areas of major regeneration. The Department has supported the remediation of these 1,900 units this year and will provide maximum flexibility for any additional units that become vacant throughout the year.

Equally important is the move we are making from a reactive model of maintenance to a planned and preventative one. This transition to planned maintenance is critical. It ensures that local authority housing stock remains in good condition, reduces the incidence of unplanned vacancy and is more cost-effective in the long run. Rolling out planned maintenance programmes means we can identify issues early, respond systematically and protect the State-owned housing assets. It also improves tenant satisfaction, strengthens trust and reduces disruption. To that end, it should be noted that nearly €200 million per annum of Exchequer funding is being provided to local authorities for improvement works on the local authority housing stock. This funding is being provided under the following programmes: planned maintenance or voids programme, the energy efficiency retrofit programme, the regeneration programme and the disabled persons grants programme. As we look forward, the key to improving vacancy levels lies in robust stock condition surveys and the continued expansion of rolling planned maintenance programmes. Stock surveys provide the foundational data local authorities need to make smart, strategic decisions about their assets. These surveys allow local authorities to profile their stock, prioritise interventions and plan capital works effectively. With this knowledge in hand, local authorities can budget effectively, avoid costly emergency repairs and extend the life of their properties.

The ICT solution has been implemented nationally to manage the housing asset and the planned maintenance programme. All 31 local authorities have been on-boarded. The ICT solution provides the ability to carry out and gather the data on stock condition surveys, which will inform future work programmes. Investing in planned maintenance is not just a technical issue. It protects housing quality for existing tenants and helps to ensure every property remains a viable home into the future. It supports quick turnaround times by completing the works necessary to meet the rental standards at the time of vacancy, with all other works completed over the life cycle of the tenancy.

The reduction to 2.8% vacancy rate is not just a statistical achievement. It represents thousands of homes brought back into use, lives changed and communities strengthened. It is a sign our policies are working and colleagues in local authorities are rising to the challenge. There is still more to do and the demand for housing remains acute. Every vacant unit must be viewed as an opportunity to meet housing needs and reinforce our commitment to social housing delivery. The Department will continue to drive improvements and change in this area. We are working with stakeholders in local government to ensure every home counts, vacancy is minimised and maintenance is planned.

As I said, the Government has provided funding for remediation of 1,900 void units this year and will provide flexibility in respect of any additional funding that becomes available throughout the year. If units become vacant above that figure, local authorities are advised to apply to the Department for funding. The survey carried out by the Department last year came up with a figure of 1,900.

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