Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 March 2026
222. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department will provide funding to Sligo and Leitrim and Donegal local authorities to carry out repairs to local authority houses that are occupied and also to return void houses to the housing stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17287/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management and maintenance of local authority housing stock, including pre-letting repairs to vacant properties, is a matter for each local authority under s.58 of the Housing Act 1966. Local authorities must also ensure all tenanted properties comply with the provisions of the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 2019. To this end, they must make adequate budgetary provision for housing repairs and cyclical maintenance utilising the significant housing rental income available to them as part of the annual budgetary process.
Notwithstanding the legal obligation on local authorities, €40 million will be provided as a contribution towards the remediation of local authority housing through my Department's Planned Maintenance and Voids Programme in 2026. This programme caters to both tenanted and vacant stock. Programme requirements, including target number of units and allocations, will be formally notified to local authorities very shortly.
Details on funding recouped to local authorities under Voids Programme to end 2024 is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/0906a-other-local-authority-housing-scheme-statistics/#voids-programme.
Detail of delivery under the 2025 Planned Maintenance/Voids Programme will be published shortly.
In addition to Voids funding my Department will also allocate €140m under the Energy Retrofit Programme, €28.5m Disabled Persons Grant Funding and €50m under Regeneration to local authorities for Stock improvement Works in 2026.
In total €260m will be allocated by my Department in 2026 to local authorities for stock improvement works.
