Dublin City Council voids funding
Deputy Costello questioned cuts to Dublin City Council funding for derelict and boarded-up homes despite housing underspends. The Minister said voids should be brought back into use quickly, cited funding and targets, and said he would raise the issue with the Housing Minister and council.
Dublin City Council has said that council homes will be left derelict and boarded up next year due to funding cuts by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This is despite the fact that there has been an underspend in recent years in the Department. As there is money in place and there is a housing crisis, why are we cutting funds to Dublin City Council to deal with derelict and boarded-up council housing?
Comment on this
I visited Dublin City Council on Tuesday and we discussed matters in a range of areas, among those dereliction and vacancy. It has put together a collaborative team within the local authority in that area. I note the point the Deputy raised on voids. We want to see voids coming back into use as quickly as possible. The target is 2,300 overall this year and we have €31 million set aside. I will bring the matter the Deputy raised to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and I will personally take it up with Dublin City Council.