Labour demands urgent action to end vacancy and dereliction amidst housing crisis

• Housing policy for homes, not vacancy

Labour’s Duncan Smith TD, has announced Labour’s comprehensive plan to end vacancy and dereliction as a crucial measure ahead of the general election, emphasising the Labour Party’s commitment to addressing Ireland’s deepening housing crisis. Speaking in Dublin, Smith outlined Labour’s plan for a national survey and mapping exercise of vacancy and dereliction, which will create an exhaustive database of vacant homes and derelict sites nationwide. The party intends to empower local authorities with a new streamlined process for Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) on properties left vacant or derelict for over three years, ensuring that vacant homes can be returned to use for families and individuals in need.

Deputy Smith said:

“Having even one home vacant in the midst of a housing crisis is one too many, yet this Government has failed to adequately address vacancy and dereliction. Labour is committed to turning the tide on this scandal. We need to resource our local authorities with the means to take back vacant or derelict properties, restore them, and bring them into the housing stock where they belong. Our national housing survey will be the first of its kind, mapping the extent of vacancy and dereliction across Ireland, and establishing a database that will ensure no property lies empty without consequence.”

Smith pointed to the example of 14 Dominick Street Upper as a tragic symbol of the Government’s lack of urgency on vacancy and dereliction:

“Twenty years ago, Dublin City Council undertook a CPO on 14 Dominick Street Upper due to its derelict state. Yet here we are, two decades later, and it remains derelict. This isn’t an isolated case; it’s a symptom of a wider problem. Dublin City Council has neither the authority nor the resources to address these properties alone. Right now, DCC must apply to the Department of Housing for funds every time it attempts to renovate a derelict home, creating endless red tape and delays.”

Labour’s plan will cut through this bureaucratic barrier, Deputy Smith emphasised. By introducing a streamlined CPO process and making funds available to local councils directly, Labour’s policy will enable councils to act swiftly and decisively against properties left vacant or derelict.

Smith added, “The housing crisis is not only a crisis of supply but of vacancy and neglect. The Government’s inaction has allowed properties to sit empty while thousands remain on housing waiting lists. Labour’s proposal isn’t just about reclaiming properties; it’s about restoring hope for those who have waited far too long for a place to call home.”

Smith stressed that Labour’s approach goes beyond the usual political promises:

“Our housing policy is about homes, not vacancy. Families should not be forced to wait while properties lie empty. Labour is committed to delivering real solutions to the housing crisis. We need to ensure that every home is used to meet the urgent demand for housing in this country.”

Smith called on the Government to back Labour’s initiative, saying,

“Now is the time to act decisively on vacancy and dereliction. We cannot afford to wait any longer, and neither can the people on housing waiting lists. Labour’s plan is ready. It’s time to implement policies that put housing back in the hands of the people.”

ENDS

Link to Labour’s full plan for housing: https://labour.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Build-More-Homes-Labour-Housing-Manifesto-2024.pdf