More than 100,000 properties in total listed as vacant and derelict
With June 19 Last Year Were The As In Picture: Over Decreasing Vacant In 82,031 Vacancy Properties Rates Recorded Denis The There File Counties Of Residential Course 2024, Minihane
There are more than 100,000 vacant and derelict residential properties in Ireland, according to a recent report.
The vacancy rate is at a record low of 3.9%, but remains unchanged on the same period last year — indicating a degree of stagnation at a national level.
There were 82,031 residential properties recorded as vacant in June 2024, with vacancy rates decreasing in 19 counties over the course of the last year.
Vacancy rates were lowest in counties Dublin, Kildare, Waterford, and Carlow. The rates were highest in Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Donegal, and Sligo.
A total of 20,413 residential buildings were classified as derelict in June, marking a 3.4% drop compared to June 2023.
Responding to the report from GeoDirectory, Housing Minister Darragh O'Brien said "a real effort" has been placed on tackling vacancy and dereliction through initiatives such as the repair and lease scheme, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, and the department's voids programme.
Reviving derelict and vacant properties has always been a key ambition for this Government as we know there are benefits on multiple fronts, Mr O'Brien said.
He said the Government would continue to make every effort to drive levels down further, adding that it benefits communities by providing much needed homes and doing so in a manner that is environmentally friendly.
However, Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin has said that badly designed schemes introduced by the Government are to blame for "very little" changing in terms of vacant and derelict homes.
Sinn Féin's spokesperson on housing said the current schemes are not delivering a significant yield in terms of the number of residential units being brought back into use.
While the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant is a good idea in principle, Mr Ó Broin said, the fact that people must pay for the works upfront and then claim the money back means it is not feasible for many people.
He claimed that there is no significant penalty in place for those who are sitting on vacant properties.
The derelict sites levy is hardly every applied and the vacant property tax is very low and only applies to a small number of properties, Mr Ó Broin told the
Local authorities must be granted a greater role when it comes to acquiring and refurbishing these properties and putting them back into social housing, affordable rental, and affordable purchase, he said.
When it comes to the delivery of social affordable housing, local authorities should have targets based on the level of vacancy in their area and funding streams made as simple as possible to navigate, according to Mr Ó Broin.
Vacant commercial units that can be turned into residential properties should also be targeted, he said, suggesting a "one-stop shop" in every local authority to help people to convert such units.