Erin McGreehan (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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124. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of vacant and derelict properties, in each local authority area, in tabular form. [6565/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Addressing vacancy and making efficient use of existing housing stock is a key priority for Government, as set out in Pathway 4 of Housing for All.

Data in relation to vacant properties is available from a number of sources such as Census and GeoDirectory publications. More recently the CSO has developed an indicator of residential vacancy using electricity consumption data and my Department has engaged with the CSO in relation to this indicator.

My Department has also supported local authorities to collate data on vacant and derelict properties in their administrative areas. Almost all local authorities now have a database of vacant properties which they can update on an ongoing basis. The database is not intended to be a comprehensive count of every vacant and derelict property in their administrative area. It is used by the local authority to engage with property owners and work with them to bring those properties back into use.

While varying levels and rates of vacancy are indicated in the different data sources, the overall trend is downwards and vacancy levels are reducing.