COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

QUESTION NO. 9

QUESTION: Councillor F. Timmons

"To ask the Chief Executive for a report into the vacant houses on Station Road and when will they be turned into much needed housing stock?"

REPLY:

In accordance with the National Vacant Housing Re-use Strategy 2018- 2021, each Local Authority has a Vacant Homes Officer that acts as central advisory point for property owners in terms of providing advice, assistance and information on these schemes which are available to bring properties back to use. There are several initiatives in place with the aim of encouraging and enabling privately owned vacant homes to be brought back into use whether to the social housing or private rented market these include:

• Repair and Leasing Scheme
• Buy and Renew Scheme
• Long- Term Leasing
• RAS
• HAP

In addition the Housing Agency is engaging with banks, financial institutions and investors to purchase suitable units for social housing use.

The aim in the first instance would be to encourage property owners to engage with the Council and find solutions for the vacant home units without having to resort to the Compulsory Purchase process. However Local Authorities do have a range of legislative powers available to deal with under- utilised and derelict properties for example through the Compulsory Purchase Powers and Derelict Sites Legislation.

The units at this location are privately owned and the Developer, has indicated that it is their intention to complete the units and sell them on the open market.