Minister for Housing and Planning, Jan O’Sullivan, TD today announced that 952 homes will be provided through a scheme to bring back into use long-term vacant local authority units.
Speaking about the announcement Minister O’Sullivan said, “I am delighted that this €15m funding will create homes for 952 families across the country.
[rev_slider Surety]
There is significant pressure on social housing supply and I am determined that no suitable homes will be left empty when there are families in need of housing.”
“Vacant local authority houses, many of which are boarded up, are intolerable. They should be providing a home for a family and rental income for the local authority. This €15m fund, which I established with the assistance of the Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin, will make a real difference and provide 952 families with good quality, secure homes.”
“Long-term vacant houses can also become a focal point for anti-social behaviour or litter in an area, so this funding will not only provide additional housing units but will also enhance whole communities. This investment is also good news for the building industry as the work will be attractive to small and medium sized contractors based locally.”
“This funding will transform vacant housing units that have blighted some communities for years. In addition to providing funding we also need to examine management practice in local authorities so that we avoid the build-up of long-term vacant units. There can a great disparity between local authorities in the time it takes for them to reallocate housing or the number of long-term vacant units they have. I want to see best practice that exists in local authorities at present applied across the entire sector so that our public housing stock is managed effective and the maximum efficiency. I will be meeting Directors of Housing of all local authorities in the coming weeks and this issue will be prominent on my agenda.”
