Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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21. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government in view of the potential for vacant homes, as identified in census 2022, to contribute to housing supply with minimal additional labour requirements, the way in which the Government has assessed the effectiveness of its current plans to address vacant properties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12889/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Pathway 4 of Housing for All identified tackling vacancy and reusing existing property as a key priority for Government and the subsequent Vacant Homes Action Plan, published in 2023, set out the various actions being pursued to return vacant properties back into use.

According to the CSO, the number of vacant dwellings recorded in Census 2022 had fallen to 8%. Other measures of vacancy tend to be lower again. The latest available vacancy data is from GeoDirectory and in their Quarter 4, 2024 report, they note that the national vacancy rate in their surveys has dropped to 3.8% - the lowest recorded since 2013.

The vacancy rate is undoubtedly falling but we must continue to ensure that we bring all available residential stock back into use. Significant progress has been made. My Department publishes annual progress reports on the Vacant Homes Action Plan outlining what has been achieved each year and plans for the year ahead, and in the coming weeks I will publish the 2025 Progress Report.

The Report will include updates on the successful delivery of the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. By the end of 2024, over 1,400 grants were paid out nationwide, supporting people to return previously empty dwellings into use as homes.

In addition, there are now over 1,200 properties approved for local authorities’ Urban Regeneration and Development Fund Call 3 Programmes, with the expected yield of approximately 4,800 residential units by 2030.

I welcome that Local authorities Vacant Homes Officers are actively pursuing all avenues to bring vacant homes back into use. and note that the range of measures being taken by Government are having real success in tackling vacancy.