Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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629. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of voids that have been refurbished in Cork city in 2017; the number outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23361/18]

Eoghan Murphy (Dublin Bay South, Fine Gael)
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The Voids Programme, introduced in 2014 by my Department, provides additional support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. The purpose of the Voids Programme is to ensure that vacant units are actively targeted, with a view to minimising the turnaround and re-let time of these units and return them to use in an energy efficient condition.

During 2017, my Department provided funding to Cork City Council to enable them to bring 81 vacant properties back to productive use. Without substantial refurbishment, these social homes would have been left vacant and in turn would not be part of the active social housing stock. My Department does not hold information on the number of outstanding voids in the Cork City Council area, as this number changes according as the refurbishment of some units is completed and others become vacant; information in this regard may be obtained directly from the City Council.