Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 April 2025
262. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant homes officers employed in each local authority; the number of posts that are vacant; the cost of employing each officer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18152/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAddressing 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, published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. In March I published the 2025 Progress Report which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available on my Department's website at the following link: gov - Vacant Homes Action Plan 2023-2026 (www.gov.ie).
My Department provides funding of €60,000 per annum to support each local authority's Vacant Homes Office, including a Vacant Homes Officer (VHO), this was increased from €50,000 in 2022. This supports the commitment in Housing for All to ensure that the VHO role in each local authority is fulltime. The provision of central funding reinforces the capacity of local authorities, including through the important role of VHOs, to ensure a dedicated focus on tackling vacancy and dereliction.
Since 2023, all 31 local authorities have a full-time VHO in place.
In acknowledgement of the administrative overhead for local authorities in managing the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Ready to Build Scheme, my Department also provided an initial supporting allocation of up to €180,000 to each local authority in respect of processing applications.
VHOs across local authorities are supported in their work by the Vacant Homes Unit in my Department and by the Housing Agency.
