Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)
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401. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government his Department's definition of vacant and dereliction for homes. [29329/26]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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There is no single definition for vacant homes. Data in relation to vacancy is available from a number of sources, all of which use different definitions or measures for vacancy.

The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has developed a new statistical release on residential vacancy, based on low or zero electricity consumption over one year using data from the Electricity Supply Board. In March 2026 the CSO released data for 2024 which details a national vacancy rate of 3.2% at the end of 2024, down from 3.3% end of 2023. This equates to a figure of 70,149 vacant dwellings at the end of 2024, down from 72,254 at the end of 2023.

GeoDirectory vacancy data, jointly developed by An Post and Tailte Éireann reported that as of December 2025, 79,703 dwellings were vacant, giving a national vacancy rate of 3.7% - the lowest recorded since 2013.

Census 2022 provided a figure of 163,433 vacant homes nationwide, 7.7% of the housing stock. Under the Census, a dwelling is classed as vacant by census enumerators if it is unoccupied on Census Night, is not used as a holiday home and is not usually inhabited by occupants who are temporarily absent at the time of census. The CSO note Census vacancy data should not be used to measure long-term vacancy or the number of properties potentially available for reuse.

While there are different indicators of vacancy, with varying levels of vacancy identified in the different data sources, the overall trend is downward and vacancy levels are reducing.

For the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (VPRG), proof of vacancy is required to the satisfaction of the local authority to support applications. Under the VPRG, the building must be vacant for two years or more at the time of grant application. Proof of vacancy can be provided by, for example, utility bills, which can help determine vacancy periods (e.g. continuous and consistent low or zero electricity usage or disconnection for a period of two years) or such other proofs as are available, to the satisfaction of the local authority. Confirmation of vacancy must be validated and verified by the local authority prior to grant approval.

Dereliction is defined under section 3 of the Derelict Sites Act 1990. In this section “derelict site” means any land which detracts, or is likely to detract, to a material degree from the amenity, character or appearance of land in the neighbourhood of the land in question because of:

(a) the existence on the land in question of structures which are in a ruinous, derelict or dangerous condition, or

(b) the neglected, unsightly or objectionable condition of the land or any structures on the land in question, or

(c) the presence, deposit or collection on the land in question of any litter, rubbish, debris or waste, except where the presence, deposit or collection of such litter, rubbish, debris or waste results from the exercise of a right conferred by or under statute or by common law.

Additional funding is available under the VPRG if the property is derelict, proof of which is required. For a property to be deemed derelict (i.e. structurally unsound and dangerous), the applicant must confirm this by submitting an independent report prepared by a suitably qualified professional (meaning a registered building surveyor, registered engineer or registered architect) along with the application form. The property can also be deemed derelict if it is on the local authority’s Derelict Sites Register.