Funding allocated to 'reactivate' social homes in Waterford
The Government announcement that €1.74 million has been allocated for reactivation of social homes in Waterford has been welcomed. Stock image of new houses
The Government announcement that €1.74 million has been allocated for reactivation of social homes in Waterford, has been welcomed in the Déise county.
Minister of State for Planning & Local Government, John Cummins TD, welcomed the announcement - made on Tuesday, March 10 - that a total of €1,474,020 was allocated to bring more local authority homes back into use in County Waterford.
Minister Cummins said that the Voids Programme Funding will make more efficient use of our existing housing stock and bring more homes back into active use throughout the county.
“The Voids Programme supports local authorities in making vacant homes ready for re-letting and works to tackle vacancy and dereliction to ensure vacant properties are re-used for housing," he said.
In total, €40â¯million in allocations will be given to local authorities for 2026 to prepare approximately 2,200 local authority homes for re-letting.
The figure is an increase of €9m (29 per cent) compared to last year’s allocation.
"Locally, this year’s funding has increased by 27.3 per cent, bringing vacant housing back into use across towns and villages," said Minister Cummins.
He said that "is essential to help ease pressure on the existing housing stock".
"It will boost supply and deliver much-needed social homes, while rejuvenating our towns”, said Minister Cummins.
“No one wants to see empty council properties at a time of such housing need, so this funding will complement existing local authority resources to ensure that properties are returned to productive use as speedily as possible," he added.
He acknowledged Waterford City & County Council for its work in the area but added "there is always room for improvement".
"The new vacancy and turnaround time targets will mean that properties spend less time empty and more time providing security and stability for people who need them most," he said
