Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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453. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of voids in Kildare County Council that are currently under refurbishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13720/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Local authorities, including Kildare County Council have recently submitted the list of properties they wish to be included in the 2017 Voids Programme. These units are currently being assessed and I expect to announce details shortly of the 2017 funding for local authorities to address vacant social housing stock, including the breakdown of the targets and funding for each local authority. Local authorities have been advised that they should not delay in carrying out the necessary refurbishment works on eligible units, while waiting for the assessment and allocations.

It should be noted that over the period 2014-2016, my Department provided funding of over €1.3million to bring some 90 void units in Kildare back into use. The Deputy will, of course, be aware that the Voids Programme is separate from any other refurbishment works that Kildare County Council may undertake from their own resources.