Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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116. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the actions he is taking to ensure a radical overhaul in the approach to vacant and derelict properties; if he will support a significant increase in the vacant homes tax to serve as an effective deterrent. [22417/25]

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.

The Vacant Homes Action Plan – Progress Report 2025, launched in March, sets out the significant progress that has been achieved across government under objectives contained in Pathway 4 of Housing for All in 2024 and the further steps that will be taken in 2025 to bring more vacant and derelict properties into use as homes.

This report shows the significant progress that has been made in tackling vacancy. While varying levels of vacancy are indicated in the different data sources, the overall trend is downwards and vacancy levels are reducing. The latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report for Q4 2024, shows that the average vacancy rate across Ireland had dropped to 3.8%, the lowest rate recorded since 2013.

The Vacant Homes Tax (VHT), which falls under the remit of the Minister for Finance, was announced in Budget 2023. The tax is part of the broad suite of measures in Housing for All introduced to address vacancy and dereliction.

The main objective of this tax is to increase the supply of residential properties by encouraging owners to bring those properties back into use. In Budget 2025, the rate of the tax was increased from five times to seven times the property’s existing base Local Property Tax charge, providing a stronger disincentive to leaving a home lie vacant.

The VHT will be kept under review by the Department of Finance and consideration of any future changes will take place in the context of Budget 2026.

I will continue to work with my colleagues across Government to ensure as many vacant and derelict properties are returned to residential use as possible.