Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1143.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of vacant properties in each county; the number owned by the State; and the number in private ownership, in tabular form. [32898/24]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1144.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of properties that have been identified by the vacant housing officer in each county and offered/advised to apply for the vacant housing grant, in tabular form. [32899/24]

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1145.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of vacant housing grants that have been applied for and paid out in each county since the scheme was introduced. [32900/24]

Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1176.To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the total number of croí cónaithe town grants drawn down to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33341/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1143, 1144, 1145 and 1176 together.

Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government.

The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I originally published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 of Housing for All and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. In April I published an update on the Action Plan which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available here on my Department's website: .

The Action Plan outlines the various measures of vacancy, including Census data and GeoDirectory vacancy data. While varying levels of vacancy are indicated in the different data sources, the overall trend across all the measures is downwards and vacancy levels are reducing.

A Vacancy Survey project, supported by my Department, commenced in December 2022. The survey, to be carried out by local authorities, aims to gather data, granular and high level, on vacant dwellings, with a focus on settlements, in each local authority area. The survey is not intended to be a comprehensive count of every vacant and derelict property in each local authority administrative area, rather its objective is to provide local authorities with a database of vacant and derelict properties which they can update on an ongoing basis and use to engage with property owners and work with them to bring those properties back into use.

The survey is underway but has not yet been completed by all local authorities and my Department is continuing to liaise with local authorities in relation to the survey.

My Department does not collect data on the number of vacant State owned properties, the Office of Public Works has responsibility for the State's property portfolio.

My Department publishes data on applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant on its website on a quarterly basis, which includes a breakdown of the grants paid per local authority and the total amount of grants paid, which can be accessed at the following link: .