Longford-Westmeath Independent TD, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, has welcomed the allocation of €300k funding for the return of 45 vacant local authority properties to productive use this year in the constituency.
The move is a continuation of the Government’s commitment under the Social Housing Strategy to deliver 47,000 housing units by 2021 at a cost of €5.35 billion.
“This announcement today will bring another 35 housing units back into use in Longford and another eight in Westmeath in a timely manner for homeless households and families on housing waiting lists,” Deputy Moran said.
Deputy Moran added that feedback from local authorities in respect of this programme is very positive.
“These measures will also greatly assist local authorities in achieving quick turnaround and re-letting times for such units,” he said.
The Vacant Properties Programme applies to both short- and long-term vacant units nationwide and is being allocated, as it was in 2014 and 2015, on an equitable and evidence-based system. The energy efficiency works on the Vacant Property Programme has secured ERDF funding as part of the EU Operational Programme 2014-2020, and will see the EU co-financing of 50 per cent of eligible public investment under these programmes.
