Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government.

The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I 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 vacant properties back into use as homes.

The Action Plan outlines the various measures of vacancy, including Census data and GeoDirectory vacancy data.

The most recent GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report Q4 2023, indicates that Laois had a vacancy rate of 2.9%. This compares favourably to the national average of 3.9%.

Under the Action Plan, a new CPO Activation Programme was launched in April 2023. The Programme supports a proactive and systematic approach by local authorities to the activation of vacant and derelict properties.

It also includes guidance for local authorities to actively use their legislative powers to acquire vacant and derelict properties, where engagement with owners has been unsuccessful.

Each local authority, including Laois County Council, is required to provide data in relation to the number properties entering the Programme, activity undertaken and progress made, along with outcomes. My Department will report on the 2023 Activation Programme targets in Q2 2024.

In relation to 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.

Exchequer funding has also been provided through my Department's Voids Programme to supplement the local authority funding available for the preparation of vacant properties for re-letting. The funding was introduced originally to tackle long term vacant units and is now increasingly targeted to support authorities to ensure minimal turnaround and re-let times for vacant stock.

Since 2014 to the end of 2023, Laois County Council have received almost €3.5 million which has supported the remediation of 349 dwellings.

Budget 2024 has provided €31 million to the programme this year and funding allocations under Planned Maintenance/Voids will be announced in due course. Notwithstanding the voids funding being provided by my Department, local authorities have a responsibility to provide adequate housing maintenance budgets for 2024 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.

To that end, my Department and local authorities are continuing to transition from a largely response and voids-based approach to housing stock management and maintenance, to a planned maintenance approach as referenced in Housing for All, policy objective 20.6. This will require the completion of stock condition surveys by all local authorities and the subsequent development of strategic and informed work programmes in response.