James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)

-----submitted by a local authority does not exclude €11,000. In addition, and where turnaround times are not impacted, local authorities can also complete the suite of works applicable to the energy efficiency retrofit programme on a vacant dwelling with additional funding up to a maximum of €48,850.

There is evidence to suggest, however, that while re-letting costs are higher, the turnaround times are longer. Pre-letting works being completed to the highest possible standard in order to future-proof these dwellings does not need to be carried out between tenancies. Such an approach causes unnecessary delays in re-let times and is inconsistent with Government policy on the management and maintenance of local authority housing stock. Additional funding was made available in 2020, which provided uncapped funding levels. This was supported again in 2021 with the non-standard voids programme. Further uncapped additional funding was made available to the sector in 2023 to finally tackle any remaining legacy vacant support for the transition to planned maintenance. There should be no long-term voids in this country after the substantial funding that was provided to get them back in place.

Deputy Gould gave the example of a house that was waiting for a retrofit for five years because it did not have a stairs. The idea that a Cabinet Minister needs to get involved with a local authority to put in a stairs because it is beyond the wit or ability of a local authority to do it in five years is, quite frankly, farcical.

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