Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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185. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of vacant properties which have been surrendered to mortgage lenders around the country; the average length of the vacancy; the number of vacant properties held by the Insolvency Service of Ireland; the average length of the vacancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11136/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I have been advised by the Central Bank of Ireland that while it collects data on homes voluntarily surrendered to mortgage lenders, they do not distinguish between vacant or occupied.

The latest Mortgage Arrears and Repossession Statisticspublished by the Central Bank, indicate that there were 1,717 properties in mortgage lenders possession at the beginning of the fourth quarter of 2017. A total of 311 properties were taken into possession by lenders during the quarter, down from 396 properties in the previous quarter. Of the properties taken into possession during the quarter, 138 were repossessed on foot of a Court Order, while the remaining 173 were voluntarily surrendered or abandoned.

I have been informed by the Department of Justice & Equality that the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI) does not hold any property.