Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide the most recent figures regarding the total number of empty homes in County Dublin and his plans to address the issue of empty homes in County Dublin and nationwide; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32730/12]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The most recent figures on the number of vacant properties in County Dublin can be found in my Department's National Housing Development Survey 2011, which can be found at www.environ.ie. There were a total of 4,679 vacant properties in the Dublin area as at September 2011, a reduction from the 6,816 properties in 2010. The National Housing Development Survey 2012 is currently under way, and I expect the results to be published this autumn. It is likely that the figure of 4,679 will reduce further in 2012 as my Department continues to work with local authorities and other stakeholders to resolve outstanding issues.

In this regard, I am chairing the National Co-ordination Committee on Unfinished Housing Developments to oversee implementation of the Report of the Advisory Group on Unfinished Housing Developments, together with the Government's response to the recommendations. The Committee includes representatives from the Irish Banking Federation, local authorities, the Housing and Sustainable Communities Agency, NAMA and the construction sector and real progress is being made with regard to the public safety works required to improve the living conditions of existing residents on some unfinished estates. The Committee intends to publish a report on overall progress, including the numbers of sites resolved, in the coming days.