Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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312. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the status of the voids programme; the number of properties that have been returned to use in 2022; the estimated number that will follow in 2023; the estimated number of properties nationwide that could qualify for the programme; if it is possible to accelerate the programme without any adverse consequences for other related activity in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3205/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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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 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.

My Department will continue to support local authorities in their work in this area. Funding allocations under the 2023 Programme will be announced early in 2023. Notwithstanding the voids funding being provided by my Department, local authorities have a responsibility to provide adequate housing maintenance budgets for 2023 and this parallel work by local authorities is essential for the development of the planned maintenance approach, which is an objective of Housing for All.