Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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482. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of full-time vacant homes officers in County Westmeath, in tabular form. [63552/22]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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483. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding provided for a vacant homes officer in County Westmeath, in tabular form. [63553/22]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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484. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on whether the vacant home schemes and policies are sufficient in addressing the vacant homes issue in County Westmeath. [63554/22]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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485. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he receives regular updates on the number of homes applied for through the vacant homes scheme in County Westmeath; and, if so, if he will provide figures. [63555/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 482 to 485, inclusive, together.

Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas.

Significant progress has been made in addressing vacancy since the launch of Housing for All, including the launch of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, funded under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund, on 14July 2022 for eligible vacant properties in towns and villages. On 15November 2022, the grant was extended to include vacant properties in cities and all rural areas. A grant of up to €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence. Where a property is derelict, a top up grant of €20,000 is available, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property to€50,000.

Data is and will continue to be gathered on the operation of the initiative. The number of applications received for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as reported by Westmeath County Council up to 31 December 2022 was 15.

On 21 September 2022 the Ready to Build Scheme, also funded under the Croi Cónaithe (Towns) Fund, was launched. Under the scheme, local authorities provide serviced sites in towns and villages at discounted rates for individuals who wish to build their own home.

From January 2022, my Department increased the contribution to support the role of Vacant Homes Officer (VHO) from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum. This was subject to transitioning the changeover of the VHO to a fulltime position by the end of Q2, 2022. I can confirm that Westmeath County Council currently has a full time VHO in place and has claimed the funding of €60,000 for 2022/23.

I expect that the extension of the grant scheme to rural properties in November 2022 will have a very positive impact on vacancy in Westmeath and, together with the other positive initiatives detailed in Pathway 4 of Housing for All will address the issue of vacant homes in Westmeath over the next number of years.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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486. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount of money requested by those in County Westmeath under the voids programme in 2020; the number of units proposed to be refurbished in County Westmeath; the amount allocated to County Westmeath from this fund in 2020; and the number of units to be refurbished in County Westmeath in tabular form. [63556/22]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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491. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the amount of money requested by those in County Longford under the voids programme in 2020; the number of units proposed to be refurbished in County Longford; the amount allocated to County Longford from this fund in 2020; and the number of units to be refurbished in County Longford in tabular form. [63562/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 491 together.

The management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, the implementation of a planned maintenance programme and carrying out of responsive repairs, are matters for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966.

Since 2014, Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to support local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-letting. This funding was initially introduced to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted at ensuring minimal turnaround and re-let times for local authority vacant stock.

An annualised breakdown by local authority of the funding provided and the number of properties remediated under the Voids programme for the years 2014-2021 is available on my Department's website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme.

Details of the 2022 Voids Programme, in relation to the funding provided and number of units remediated, will be made available on my Department's website shortly.

Details of the 2023 Voids Programme will be issued to local authorities in early 2023.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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487. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of full-time vacant homes officers in County Longford, in tabular form. [63558/22]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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488. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the funding provided for a vacant homes officer in County Longford, in tabular form. [63559/22]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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489. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his views on whether the vacant home schemes and policies are sufficient in addressing the vacant homes issue in County Longford. [63560/22]

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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490. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he receives regular updates on the number of homes applied for through the vacant homes scheme in County Longford; and, if so, if he will provide figures. [63561/22]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 to 490, inclusive, together.

Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock. Many areas of cities, towns and villages of all sizes face the blight of vacant properties, which, if brought back into use, could add real vibrancy and provide new accommodation in those areas.

Significant progress has been made in addressing vacancy since the launch of Housing for All, including the launch of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, funded under the Croí Cónaithe (Towns) Fund, on 14July 2022 for eligible vacant properties in towns and villages. On 15November 2022, the grant was extended to include vacant properties in cities and all rural areas. A grant of up to €30,000 is available for the refurbishment of vacant properties for occupation as a principal private residence. Where a property is derelict, a top up grant of €20,000 is available, bringing the total grant available for a derelict property to€50,000.

Data is and will continue to be gathered on the operation of the Grant. The number of applications received for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant as reported by Longford County Council up to 31 December 2022 was 4.

On 21 September the Ready to Build Scheme, also funded under the Croi Cónaithe (Towns) Fund, was launched. Under the scheme, local authorities provide serviced sites in towns and villages at discounted rates for individuals who wish to build their own home.

From January 2022, my Department increased the contribution to support the role of Vacant Homes Officer (VHO) from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum. This was subject to transitioning the changeover of the VHO to a fulltime position by the end of Q2, 2022. Longford County Council currently has a full time VHO in place and has claimed the funding of €60,000 for 2022/23.

I expect that the extension of the grant scheme to rural properties in November 2022 will have a very positive impact on vacancy in Longford and together with the other positive initiatives detailed in Pathway 4 of Housing for All will address the issue of vacant homes in Longford over the next number of years.