______________________________________________
For Written Answer on : 25/06/2024
Question Number(s): 237 Question Reference(s): 26999/24
Department: Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
______________________________________________
QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Housing; Local Government and Heritage further to Parliamentary Question No. 189 of 18 June 2024, if the information from the vacancy survey project supported by his Department has been made available to his Department; if so, to list the number of vacant and derelict properties in each individual local authority area, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
Tackling vacancy is a key priority for this Government and Pathway 4 of Housing for All sets out a blueprint to address vacancy and make efficient use of our existing housing stock.
The Vacant Homes Action Plan, which I originally published in January 2023, built on Pathway 4 of Housing for All and set out the various actions that were being pursued to return vacant properties back into use as homes. I recently published an update on the Action Plan a year on which shows the significant progress that is being made and it is available on my Department’s website.
A Vacancy Survey project, supported by my Department, commenced in December 2022. The survey is not intended to be a comprehensive count of every vacant and derelict property in each local authority administrative area, rather its objective is to provide local authorities with a database of vacant and derelict properties which they can update on an ongoing basis and use to engage with property owners and work with them to bring those properties back into use.
The survey has not yet been completed by all local authorities. While my Department has access to the application used by the local authorities in collecting the data, the data requested is not collated by my Department in the manner requested.
My Department continues to liaise with local authorities in relation to the survey.