Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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274. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update under Housing for All to a nationwide, local authority-led, compulsory purchase order scheme to purchase vacant homes. [7147/23]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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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. An action under Pathway 4 provides for the introduction of a programme for the compulsory purchase by local authorities of vacant properties for sale on the open market.

To support local authorities in the use of Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), a number of key steps have been taken including:

- The development by the Housing Agency of CPO guidance material which has been made available to local authorities.

- The establishment of a Property Optimisation Unit in the Housing Agency. This Unit is assisting local authorities with CPOs, providing a general advisory service including step by step assistance through the process.

My Department is engaging with local authorities who are successfully utilising the CPO process with a view to identifying best practice for dissemination to all local authorities. The use of CPOs is being examined by my Department in partnership with The Housing Agency with the intention of identifying opportunities to make the process more straightforward, establish best practice and support local authorities.

A programme for the CPO of vacant properties for resale on the open market will be launched by my Department in Quarter 1 of this year. This will include the dissemination of best practice guidelines and supports available for local authorities.