Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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107. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the 75 ghost housing estates nationwide; if he will provide a breakdown of the number of houses and location of each ghost estate broken down by local authority area; the plans that are in place to bring these houses into use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5002/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Addressing vacancy and maximising the use of existing housing stock is a primary objective of this Government, as demonstrated by the focus given to this priority area in Pathway 4 of the Government’s Housing for All plan. In this regard, Action 19.10 of Housing for All provides that local authorities will work with the appropriate stakeholders to resolve issues within estates still categorised as ‘unfinished’ with a view to minimising any vacancy levels. Since 2010, there has been a 98% reduction in the number of unfinished housing developments, from 3,000 to 75.  Of these 75, 40 developments are unoccupied. These developments mainly contain partial shells and units at foundation level and are located in low housing demand areas. 35 developments that remain on the ‘unfinished’ developments survey for 2022, are occupied to some extent and are to remain the focus for local authorities to work towards a satisfactory resolution.

In March 2022, my Department issued correspondence to each of the 26 local authorities that had unfinished housing developments, requesting an update on the progress made since the last survey in 2020.  Details in this regard were published in the Housing for All Q2 2022 Progress Report, a copy of which can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/03335-housing-for-all-q2-2022-progress-report/  

On 30 January, I launched the Vacant Homes Action Plan. The Plan outlines the progress that has been made in implementing actions to address vacancy and make efficient use of existing stock, contained in Housing for All. It also identifies the actions to be pursued in order to continue to return as many vacant properties back to viable use as possible, increase the supply of housing available, and revitalise the vibrancy of local communities. A copy of the Vacant Homes Action Plan can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/df86c-vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026/