Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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84. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on the prevalence of vacancy and dereliction; his further views on the adequacy of Housing for All as a means of converting voids; if he will report on his representations to the Minister for Finance in respect of the number of vacant homes which may be subject to the vacant homes tax; his plans to address delays in the restoration of local authority properties to use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49194/23]

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I join in welcoming members of the Not Our Fault 100% Redress campaign. I want to ask the Minister of State about vacancy and dereliction and what the Government is doing to tackle this scourge across the country. In particular I want to ask what the Government is doing to ensure that voids can be converted. We can see the delays in the restoration of local authority homes into use and we want to see those delays tackled. I also want to ask about the Minister of State's representations to the Minister for Finance in respect of the number of vacant homes which may be subject to the vacant homes tax. I have a number of questions and I am seeking clarity on the plans to tackle vacancy and dereliction.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and the vacant homes action plan contains a suite of measures which actively address vacancy. We see huge potential in existing housing and building stock in our villages, towns and cities to meet the objectives of Housing for All.

To give some examples, full-time vacant housing officers are now in place across all local authorities. A compulsory purchase order, CPO, activation programme was launched in April which supports a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as homes. Some €150 million is being made available under the urban regeneration and development fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties for reuse or sale. In addition, the Croí Cónaithe towns fund is successfully supporting the refurbishment of vacant and derelict properties and sites through the vacant property refurbishment grant and ready-to-build scheme. Feedback on the grant has been very positive, with 5,015 applications reported to date and 2,369 applications having received approval.

In relation to voids, the Department is supporting the return to use of over 2,400 properties through funding of €31 million in 2023. Local authorities are working to transition from a largely response and voids based approach to housing stock management and maintenance to a planned maintenance approach. I note that €5 million has been ring-fenced to support the transition to a planned maintenance approach in 2023.

On the vacant homes tax which was introduced by the Minister for Finance, I note that in budget 2024, the rate of the tax was increased to five times the property’s existing base local property tax charge. Revenue has undertaken work to identify approximately 25,000 property owners who are liable for the tax. These new initiatives are addressing residential vacancy comprehensively. The commitment the Government has made to addressing vacancy will continue to play a vital role in delivering homes and revitalising communities.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State. In reply to questioning by the Labour Party of him and the Minister previously, we heard that ending the scourge of vacancy and dereliction is a priority for the Government. We are delighted if that is the case but the reality is that it appears a very much hands-off approach to this is being taken by central government. With respect, the Tánaiste has previously said in this House that responsibility for tackling vacancy and dereliction rests with local authorities, yet what we are hearing, and what Dublin City Council in particular is saying, is that the Government has reduced the subvention for the renovation of voids. Figures from our local Labour Party councillor in the south-west inner city, Councillor Darragh Moriarty, project that fewer voids will be turned around over the coming years as a direct result of Government cutting central funding. We are hearing that there will be some 220 fewer voids addressed. Dublin City Council's consultative group has apparently been notified by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that it will be reducing central government's subvention for refurbishment from 25% to 20%. This is at a time when we are seeing construction costs increasing. In The Irish Timestoday, Olivia Kelly quotes a senior engineer with Dublin City Council saying that Government funding for repairing and refurbishing empty properties is constantly coming down. Where is the priority?

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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I refute the claim that the Government is taking a hands-off approach. Quite the opposite is the case. We are taking a very much hands-on approach. A vacant homes unit has been set up within the Department and the schemes I outlined are delivering the reuse and the repurposing of a lot of housing stock across the country. To clarify the position, we received a submission from Dublin City Council on the voids programme only last week and we will be making additional funding available for that programme. Critically, we will continue to respond to the needs of local authorities. We have put in place vacant homes officers. It is down to the local authorities to be proactive and to meet the challenges in their areas. The Government will not be found wanting in providing support.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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I thank the Minister of State for that assurance. It is certainly very welcome to hear additional funding will be made available. Perhaps the Minister of State will explain precisely what level of funding will be available and whether it will ensure local authorities can tackle the real scourge of vacancy and dereliction, particularly in local authority and social homes. There are approximately 500 council homes in Dublin city awaiting refurbishment. We are hearing from officials and our elected representatives at council level that there is simply not funding available to bring those back into use. While we very much welcome initiatives that have been taken, the reality is that it is a hands-off approach. We still do not even have a national register on vacancy and dereliction. The duty of compiling figures on vacancy and dereliction is left to individual local authorities. As a result, we are seeing a seriously piecemeal approach to this. In February last, we were informed Dublin City Council seized just 25 derelict homes in five years. There just does not seem to be any urgency from central government in ensuring local authorities are given the support they need to bring vacant properties back into use and that central government is maintaining an oversight and the vital data we need on the true level of vacancy and dereliction.

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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Central government is being incredibly proactive in supporting local authorities. Regarding the additional funding I spoke about, this will be granted on the basis of work done. If additional funding is required by local authorities for work completed, the funding will be in place for them to see the work through.

Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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Is it provided without a cap?

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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That is critically important. The register on vacancy and dereliction is down to the local authorities. It is important they continue to maintain that register and there is consistency across all 31 local authorities. The CPO programme is working quite well. I know from experience in the two local authorities in my constituency that both have been very proactive on the CPO programme. Again, we will encourage local authorities to continue to support that. In summary, local authorities need to be proactive and central government, including the Department, will respond as required. This matter does, however, require a proactive approach by local authorities.