At a recent South Dublin County Council meeting local Councillor Charlie O’Connor requested information on vacant houses in the SDCC areas “To ask the Chief Executive to confirm actions he is taking to deal with the issue of boarded up vacant houses throughout the County; will he appreciate the concern of communities in respect of the matter.”
South Dublin County Council confirmed the following “As of the 30th June 2021, there were 96 vacant properties undering or have recently completed re-let repairs stretching across Clondalkin, Lucan, Rathfarnham/ Templeogue, Palmerstown / Fonthill and Tallaght. The 26 properties ready for allocation are in the process of being tenanted through CBL and other allocation processes and will be occupied as soon as tenants accept offers and/or are in a position to take up occupancy.
A number of longer-term vacant properties have been allocated in recent months which has resulted in the average monthly figures for periods of vacancy rising but the return to occupancy of some of these longer-term vacant units represent the completion of significant, protracted processes prior to re-letting involving some of the following: significant refurbishment to accommodate medical needs of disabled persons, repeated fire damage of a vacant property, availability of appropriate contractors, and multiple refusals of particular properties.
The prompt refurbishment and allocation of vacant housing stock is an ongoing priority across relevant sections of the Housing Department and processes are undergoing further review to minimise the time and costs of re-let works to maximise the use of housing stock by re-letting vacant homes as quickly as possible and a further detailed report will be presented to the next meeting of the Housing SPC in this regard.”
