Local Authority Resourcing

Since 2023, every local authority in Ireland has a full-time Vacant Homes Officer, funded by the Department of Housing. These officers play a key role in tackling vacancy and dereliction.

Their work includes:

• Identifying vacant and derelict properties.
• Contacting owners and promoting available supports.
• Managing the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant (VPRG).
• Coordinating with planning, derelict sites, and town regeneration teams.

They are supported by the Vacant Homes Unit in the Department of Housing and the Property Optimisation Unit in The Housing Agency.

To tackle dereliction effectively, councils need to share ideas and learn from each other. A national forum and network for local authority staff will help spread best practice and improve coordination.

This will build on existing roles like Town Regeneration Officers and Vacant Homes Officers to integrate efforts locally.

Under Delivering Homes, Building Communities, extra funding will support the administration of the VPRG.

The Department of Housing will publish annual reports showing:

• The work done to tackle dereliction.
• How many properties have been brought back into use.
• How funding and delivery measures are performing.