Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
501. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the steps his Department is taking to reduce the rate of vacancy among social houses across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36232/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each individual local authority under Section 58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities also have a legal obligation to ensure all their tenanted properties are compliant with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019.
My Department provides annual funding support to local authorities in preparing vacant units for re-let under the Voids Programme. This funding is provided to support local authorities in their efforts to manage their housing stock efficiently and is in addition to funding from the local authorities own resources.
The emphasis of the programme is on those refurbishment works necessary to comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019 to ensure quick turnaround and re-letting times. Future works should be deferred and carried out under planned maintenance over the lifecycle of the asset. Where a local authority chooses to do works over and above those which are necessary to comply with the rental standards it can impact re-let times and result in additional costs for the local authority.
The Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a new Voids Programme, with a view to further improve turnaround times of vacant social housing units. This is being developed in my Department.
