*Photograph: Joe Buckley
656 vacant social homes were brought back into active use in Co Clare between 2014 and 2023 under the Voids Programme figures released by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage show.
A total of €13.2m was spent in order to renovate and refurbish the homes, the figures outline. The Voids Programme supports local authorities in preparing vacant homes for re-letting and builds on the ongoing work to tackle vacancy and dereliction to bring vacant properties into re-use for housing.
2015 was the best year for Clare in terms of properties returned to use with the figure reaching 96. 2014 (65), 2016 (79), 2017 (47), 2018 (43), 2019 (62), 2020 (77), 2021 (82), 2022 (49) and 2023 (56) was the breakdown for the other years.
In terms of expenditure, 2019 when 62 houses were returned to use proved to be the most expensive year with a bill of €2.1m. The breakdown of the bill over the past decade in Clare is, 2014 (€995,831), 2015 (€1.4m), 2016 (€1.3m), 2017 (€966,203), 2018 (€906,400), 2020 (€1.5m), 2021 (€1.3m), 2022 (€1.4m) and 2023 (€1m).
Clare’s figure of 656 is the tenth highest of the thirty one local authorities included in the programme for properties returned to use. This is behind both Cork City Council, Cork County Council, Donegal County Conucil, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, Kerry County Council, Meath County Council, South Dublin Council and Tipperary County Council.
Of the thirty one local authorities, Clare had the sixth highest spend for its total figure behind Dublin City Council (€86.7m), Cork City Council (€27.1m), Cork County Council (€19.9m), Fingal County Council (€15.4m) and Tipperary County Council (€14.6m).
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien (FF) stated, “Refurbishment and the return to use of vacant properties helps to reduce pressure on existing housing stock, increase supply, and ultimately, provide much needed homes for people”.
He added, “Apart from addressing the need for social housing, the refurbishment of these unoccupied social homes also has a positive impact on communities. It prevents the decline and abandonment of vacant properties, which, in some instances, can lead to antisocial behaviour”.
Clare County Council’s input was commended by the Minister. “I commend Clare County Council for working with us to bring these homes back into active use in 2023. Their efforts, will make a real difference in the lives of over 2,400 households All local authorities are encouraged to continue to be as proactive as possible in the return of all vacant properties to use through the use of the Voids Funding Programme as well as other programmes such as the Buy & Renew and Repair & Lease Schemes”.
“Speed in tackling vacant social housing is also critical to regeneration and improving the vitality and vibrancy of communities in towns and cities across the country. Through this Housing for All action we have now have shifted to a position of planned maintenance of social housing stock to ensure the fastest possible turnaround and re-let times for social housing stock,” he concluded.
