COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, July 13, 2015

QUESTION NO.21

QUESTION: Councillor D. Richardson

That the Chief Executive report on the current empty properties that SDCC has on its Books, Residents are complaining about choice base lettings that there are no new properties on the system?   

REPLY:

At the 30th June 2015, there were 34 vacant properties, 24 of which are South of the Naas Road and 10 North of the Naas Road.  3 of these properites are Traveller Specific.  This level of vacancy would be recognised as one of the lowest void rates nationally.  The average turnaround of properties (as at 31st May 2015) is 11.49 weeks.  Of the 34 vacant units all have tenants sourced or on offer and are awaiting final relet works. 

However in response to the current homeless crisis and the Ministerial Directive on the 27th January 2015, properties are being allocated to the most vulnerable households "deemed by the authority to have one or more than one of the following needs:

 (i) was in an institution, emergency accommodation or a hostel (i.e. a homeless household within the meaning of Section 2 of the Housing Act 1988);

 (ii) has an accommodation requirement arising from an enduring physical, sensory, mental health or intellectual impairment (i.e. households where one of its members has a disability and as such is deemed to be a vulnerable household); and

 (iii) was in accommodation that was unsuitable for the household's adequate housing on exceptional medical or compassionate grounds (i.e. including households the subject of domestic violence and young people leaving State care and as such deemed to be a vulnerable household)."

This directive is due to expire on the 27th July 2015, however we have been notified that it is subject to further review before this date. 

By the 7th July 2015, South Dublin County Council in co-operation with An Tuath Housing Association will have succeeded in the movement of 63 families from Emergency Hotel/B&B accommodation into appartments in Tallaght Cross. These families will be supported by Focus Ireland to move on to HAP housing.  It is hoped that South Dublin County Council maybe in a more positive position to reconvene the advertising of properties on the Choice Based Letting System in the near future.