FINGAL County Council is to work with the Housing Agency on a pilot research project to explore ways in which local authorities can identify vacant properties and acquire them for social housing.
It was recently revealed that the vacant dwellings rate fell from seven per cent in 2011, to 5.5 per cent in 2016 in the council’s administrative area, which was considerably lower than the national average of 12.8 per cent and the regional average of 6.9 per cent.
In his report to the September meeting of the council, Chief Executive Paul Reid said that the recent Preliminary Census of Population report indicated that there were 40 void social housing units at the end of August.
However, Mr Reid explained to councillors that it was virtually impossible to return a lower figure of voids from a housing stock of over 5,000 homes.
“That is the lowest percentage of voids of stock,” he explained. “We would all like it to be zero but it will never be. That is normal stock churn and we have less than one per cent of our stock in voids.”
He added that the council places voids in two categories depending on the level of repairs required. Turnaround times range from eight to 12 weeks for category one voids and eight to 16 weeks for category two.
“We have pretty good processes,” he added.
Mr Reid revealed that 60 per cent of applicants for Housing Support within Fingal have responded to letters sent out by the council’s Housing Department as part of the preparation of a Summary of Social Housing Need Assessment under the 2009 Housing Act.
The preliminary closing date was August 19 and reminder letters have been issued to those applicants who have not yet responded.
“The onus is on the resident to advise us if they have moved,” Mr Reid stressed. “We are doing everything in our power to make contact with people.”
He also stated that the council is currently in the process of identifying suitable qualifying projects as part of the €200m Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund which was recently established under Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness.
The aim of this fund is to support the development of critical infrastructures, such as roads, which will facilitate and make viable the use of zoned lands for larger housing developments.
The Chief Executive also revealed that Fingal has been chosen as the location for several high profile meetings over the coming months starting with the first meeting of the high level group which is overseeing the Dublin Region Action Plan for Jobs.
The group is made up of representatives of various Government Departments, State agencies and the business community, and is chaired by local businesswoman Caroline Keeling.
Another is a World Health Organisation’s International Conference on creating Age Friendly Environments in Europe which will be held in the Grand Hotel, Malahide, on October 25 and 26 and is being jointly hosted by the council and Age Friendly Ireland.
It was also reported by Mr Reid that over 50 retailers in Balbriggan have expressed an interest in a new shop front retail scheme which the council is running in collaboration with Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce.