Empty council houses in Blanchardstown 

Fingal County Council is facing renewed pressure to carry out a full audit of all long-term vacant council houses in Dublin West, amid growing frustration over delays in making homes available during a national housing emergency.  

Aontú councillor Ellen Troy has hit out at what she calls a “lack of urgency” in dealing with boarded-up and vacant local authority homes—pointing to three fire-damaged houses on Fortlawn Avenue in Blanchardstown that have remained uninhabited for more than a year.  

“Three houses on Fortlawn Avenue were damaged by a fire in March 2024 and Fingal County Council, after a year on, are still undertaking works to make them habitable again,” Cllr Troy said.  

“More than a year on and they are still not finished—and to make it worse, there are five more nearby lying empty.

“We’re in a housing emergency. I cannot understand how it could possibly take so long.”  

While she acknowledged that renovation and retrofitting works do take time, she argued that such long delays are unacceptable, particularly given the scale of the housing crisis facing the country.

“If these were privately owned houses, they would be turned around in no time at all.

“Over a year’s delay would simply never happen; it wouldn’t make economic sense. However, when it comes to public housing, common sense and urgency go out the window.”  

Cllr Troy stressed that these properties represent far more than just buildings—they are potential homes for individuals and families who are currently in desperate need of housing.  

“Families are living in hotel rooms, and people are sleeping on our streets. It’s inexcusable,” she said.  

“The situation in Blanchardstown is terribly unfair, both to the homeless and to the locals living there. It’s no fun living next to boarded-up houses.  

It’s soul-destroying for those who need a home and dismal for people who live there.”  

She shared one story of a local resident who said he feels ashamed to bring visitors to his home due to the state of the surrounding houses.  

“One local man told me he’s embarrassed when visitors come to his house.

“He’s afraid they’ll judge the area, even though it’s a lovely place to live. One house near him has been empty for over a year, even though it’s fully ready for occupancy—because its former occupant passed away.”  

Cllr Troy is now calling on Fingal County Council to carry out a full and transparent audit of all long-term vacant council homes in the area, and to fast-track the renovations needed to bring them back into use.  

“The housing crisis is an absolute stain on our country and one that is going to cause huge societal issues down the line.

“People are traumatised by their experiences of being homeless and this is going to come back to bite in years to come,” she said.  

“I want FCC to take real action on this. Homeless people deserve no less.”