COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, February 11, 2008

QUESTION NO. 13

QUESTION: Councillor K. Warren

To ask the Manager if he could give a breakdown in terms of social/ private housing and apartment/ other housing in terms of the 5,407 housing units that were recorded as unoccupied or vacant in terms of the recent data from the 2006 Census for South Dublin County Council’s administrative area, and if he will make a statement on the matter?

REPLY:

The Council’s Housing Stock in 2006 was calculated at 7,967.  There were 86 vacant dwellings in that stock on 23rd April 2006.

Houses become vacant for a wide variety of reasons including fire damage , surrender , eviction , abandonment  by the tenant and vandalism by anti-social elements within the community.

The vacancies that arise from these reasons require each house to be fully repaired and made fit for re-allocation by the Council.

The time scale required for repairs can vary  ( depending on the nature and extent of the work required  ) from 1 month to 9 months or more and this explains why queries often arise regarding vacant / boarded up houses.

The Council must follow prescribed legal procedures to re-acquire a house that has been abandoned.  At lease 28 days must elapse before action can be taken on an Abandonment Notice.