Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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587. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of vacant homes officers who are employed by local authorities nationally; if those employed as vacant homes officers also carry out duties outside of this role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2260/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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In January 2022, my Department communicated with local authorities outlining that funding, made available since 2018 to support the work of a Vacant Homes Office including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO), would be increased from €50,000 to €60,000 per annum, from mid-2022.

This supports the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that VHOs are full-time. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of VHOs, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction with a view to increasing the opportunities for residential development.

Local authorities were requested to arrange for the VHO position to become full-time by the end of Q2 2022 and to notify my Department accordingly. Of the 31 local authorities, 29 VHO are now on a full-time basis. I understand that recruitment is ongoing for the remaining 2 posts.