COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
Monday, July 08, 2024
QUESTION NO. 1
QUESTION: Councillor D. Adelaide
To ask the Chief Executive for a report on vacant homes, report to include how many vacant homes have been identified and how many have being brought back into use?
REPLY:
Under Housing for All, local authorities are now required to adopt a proactive, planned and systematic approach to address vacancy and dereliction within their administrative area by:
- Identification of vacant and derelict properties
- Identification of and engagement with owners
- Communication regarding the various grants and schemes in place to support bringing vacant and derelict properties back into us
The Department has proposed the following targets to address vacancy and dereliction within the County for 2024:
- 30 properties to enter the CPO Activation Programme, and
- 3 compulsory purchases / compulsory acquisitions to commence.
There are a number of grants available to bring vacant and derelict properties back into use through the CPO Activation Programme including the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant and the Repair and Lease Scheme. We currently have 1 application for the Repair and Lease Scheme and we have received 101 applications for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to date of which:
|
Grants Approved/Approved in Principle |
66 |
|
Grants paid ( up to 28.06.24) |
11 |
|
Further Information requested/awaiting inspection |
13 |
|
Withdrawn |
4 |
|
Declined |
7 |
The Council has been allocated €6 million in funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund Round 3 funding to address long term vacant and derelict properties. In April 2024, the Council acquired 4 properties under the provisions of the Derelict Sites Act and Housing, Social and Community Development has taken possession of the houses. Funding for the acquisition of the properties was secured under the URDF call 3 and works will be carried out in order to bring these properties to the market for purchase by first time buyers.
Negotiations are also underway with the registered owner for the purchase of 2 vacant properties in Rathcoole which have been approved for funding under URDF call 3.
The Vacant Homes section continues to work closely with the Derelict Sites section in Environment, Water and Climate Change to proactively address vacant and dereliction in the County.