Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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602. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the large number of elderly persons' apartments unoccupied in complexes for elderly persons, for example, those in Glasanaon court and Mellows court, Finglas; if such empty bedsits or apartments can be renovated to a standard to accommodate the large number of elderly persons awaiting accommodation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41302/17]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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Dublin City Council has advised that they have a policy in place since 2013 of amalgamating existing 2 bedsit units (26m2) into more substantial one bed units. This policy has been supported by both the Council and my Department. Over 300 units have now been amalgamated giving a much improved living environment for the residents concerned. In order to carry out these amalgamations, it is necessary to have a minimum number of vacancies to allow the work to proceed. The Council have therefore been maintaining vacancies in identified complexes to facilitate this work. This is the case with the units at Glasanaon, where a contractor has been appointed to carry out the amalgamations at this location.

Dublin City Council have informed my Department  that there is currently one void property in Mellowes Court, which is currently being refurbished by the  City Council maintenance team. There are other vacant senior citizens properties at various locations, which the City Council plans to redevelop through the Two into One Amalgamation Programme or through the Voids Programme  and will be re-let as soon as possible.

To date in 2017, Dublin City Council has refurbished and re-let 575 properties, 194 of which are senior citizens’ properties. These refurbishments have been substantially assisted by funding from my Department.