Vacant properties cannot be tolerated when so many are without a home – O’Sullivan

Labour Housing spokesperson, Jan O’Sullivan TD, has welcomed news that the Government will finally be introducing measures to bring vacant homes back into use across the country.

Deputy O’Sullivan commented:

“I welcome that Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Eoghan Murphy, has finally woken up to the fact that there are nearly 200,000 empty homes across the country that could be used to ease the pressure of the housing crisis.

“While Minister Murphy has yet to publish the Vacant Homes Strategy, I welcome the measures he announced today to bring vacant properties back into use.

“I support the call by the Peter McVerry Trust for each County and City Council to appoint vacant homes officers to inspect properties and assess why these vacant properties are being left vacant and to proactively work to have them occupied again. 

“During budgetary negotiations taking place over the coming months, Minister Murphy needs to ensure a vacant property tax will be introduced. This type of tax is the most effective tool to bring properties that have been empty for a long period of time back on stream.

“People all over the country can point to at least one abandoned property in their own area. I’m glad the Minister is finally making moves to bring back vacant properties into use and I look forward to a full suite of measures being introduced following the publication of the Vacant Homes Strategy that we were promised in July 2016.

“Today is hopefully the first step in easing the crisis, nearly 200,000 empty properties cannot be tolerated when so many are without a home.”