Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Addressing vacancy is a key priority for this government. The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which was launched in January 2023, outlines the significant progress that has been made in addressing vacancy, along with the actions that are being pursued to return as many vacant properties back into use as possible.

There are now a range of schemes and supports in place to support addressing vacancy.

Among the measures in the Action Plan, I announced a €150 million Urban Regeneration Development Fund for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties and sites for re-use or sale. The Fund will then be replenished from the proceeds received from the sale or reuse of a site, allowing a local authority to establish a rolling programme to tackle vacancy and dereliction. Local authorities, when applying for the funding, have indicated that they could identify projects generating some 4,850 residential units.

A key initiative to address vacancy and dereliction has been the introduction of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Cónaithe Towns Fund. From May 2023, up to a maximum of €50,000 in grant funding is available to support the refurbishment of a vacant property into a home. Where the property is confirmed as derelict, up to a maximum of €70,000 in grant funding is available.

The Repair and Leasing Scheme is targeted at owners of vacant properties who cannot afford or access the funding required to bring the property up to the standard for rental property. The local authority (or AHB) pays for the repairs upfront and the home is leased to the local authority / AHB for the provision of social housing stock for between 5 and 25 years. The property owner repays the cost of the repairs funded by the local authority as a reduction in the rent over an agreed term.

The Buy and Renew Scheme provides capital funding to local authorities to deliver social housing while also tackling vacancy and dereliction, by supporting local authorities in purchasing and renewing housing units in need of repair and making them available for social housing use.

Planning regulations, introduced in 2018, which exempted certain vacant commercial premises, including ‘over the shop’ type spaces, from requiring planning permission to change to residential purposes have been extended until 2025. The scope of the exemption was also extended to include ‘public houses’.

All local authorities now have a dedicated Vacant Homes Officer (VHO), funded by the Department of Housing, Local and Heritage, ensuring a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy.

My Department launched a new CPO Activation Programme in April 2023, which provides for a planned, proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use. This Programme includes guidance and supports for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers to compulsorily acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful. My Department will be collating data in relation to the number of properties entering the programme, activity being undertaken and outcomes in relation to these properties. This will include data on the scheme or support used to bring the property back into use. Once compiled, this data will be published.

The most efficient home to deliver is one which already exists. I firmly believe that the commitment this Government has made to addressing vacancy and dereliction will continue to play a vital role in delivering homes and revitalising local communities.