Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government to end long-term vacancy and dereliction under the urban regeneration development fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43446/24]

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

The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I 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. Earlier this year I published an update on the Action Plan which shows the significant progress that is being made. Both the Vacant Homes Action Plan and related update can be accessed on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/df86c-vacant-homes-action-plan-2023-2026/

As part of the Action Plan, I announced a €150 million Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) for local authorities to acquire vacant or derelict properties for reuse or sale, using their compulsory purchase powers were necessary.

The URDF Call 3 fund is being used for the acquisition of long term vacant and derelict buildings and sites in URDF towns by local authorities, for onward sale on the open market to purchasers who undertake to return the properties to use within timelines agreed with the local authority.

The URDF Call 3 funding is intended to address the financial barriers and risk faced by local authorities in seeking to tackle long term vacant and derelict buildings and sites across URDF eligible towns and cities. The fund will be available to cover the acquisition and sales costs of a property and any minor works required to make the property more suitable for sale e.g. improving access, tidying up, opening up to facilitate inspections, building condition assessments, reports etc.

Acquired properties are then offered by local authorities for private sale at market value to those who in return will commit to bringing the property back into residential use. Proceeds from the sale of these properties will be used to replenish the fund, allowing a local authority to establish a rolling programme to tackle long-term vacancy and dereliction without a requirement for borrowing and the associated financial risk.

Purchasers of these properties from the local authority will be able to defray the costs of returning them to use by accessing, subject to eligibility, the new Croí Cónaithe Vacant Homes Grant, SEAI energy efficiency grants or the Repair and Leasing Scheme.

In Q3 2023, following a consultation process with the local authority sector, formal approval in principle was issued to each local authority for a programme of property acquisitions. Following assessment of submissions for all 31 local authorities against the relevant criteria, 946 long term vacant (> 2 years) and derelict buildings located in URDF town and city centres were initially approved for acquisition and placed on the approved acquisition programme.

A one-year review on the implementation of the programme to date and an update on the approved acquisition programmes is currently underway, the results of which will be brought to my attention once completed.

The successful implementation of the Call 3 programme will support the Government’s Town Centre First Policy, Vacant Homes Action Plan and the National Planning Framework objectives seeking to provide increased numbers of homes in towns and urban areas where people can live close to local services, amenities and employment.