While it’s clear we need to increase housing delivery, it’s also vital that we maximise the use of existing properties, according to Social Democrats TD Cian O’Callaghan.
Deputy O’Callaghan, who is the party’s housing spokesperson, said:
“The annual report into the performance of local authorities published by the National Oversight and Audit Commission (NOAC) paints a worrying picture of persistent vacancy in our social housing stock.
“In Galway City, where there are thousands in need of a home, the council is taking on average 49.6 weeks to relet a vacant home. That’s nearly a year of lying empty in a city that the Parliamentary Budget Office described as having the highest social housing need in the country.
“In Limerick City and County, social homes sit empty for well over a year – 61.8 weeks before being relet to new tenants.
“There is no need for these homes to lie empty for so long.
“Sligo County Council have made significant progress tackling vacancy in their social housing stock over the past eight years.
“They brought their average time to relet a council home from 77.7 weeks in 2017 to 16.4 weeks in 2023.
“Seeing social homes sitting empty represents a slap in the face to the 115,425 households currently in need of a social home.
“The Minister for Housing needs to get on top of this chronic waste in our social housing stock.”
September 19, 2024