Vacant properties

According to Census 2016 data, there were 477 vacant dwellings (excluding vacant holiday homes) in Ballinasloe Urban area and 30 in Ballinasloe Rural.

Rebuilding Ireland, the Government’s Housing Plan launched in 2016 included commitments on incentivising the return of vacant homes back into use with three schemes introduced: Repair & Lease, Housing Agency Fund and Buy & Renew. However, all three schemes combined only targeted 5,600 vacant homes over six years – just 3% of the total vacant stock across the State.

The table below shows the number of properties brought back into use by Galway County Council up to the end of 2020.

REPAIR & LEASE 2 HOUSING AGENCY FUND 22 BUY & RENEW 0

Recommendations:

 A dedicated vacant homes officer in Galway County Council  Increase funding and support for Repair and Lease, Buy and Renew and the Housing Agency Fund so that they can reach their potential in bringing vacant properties in Ballinasloe back into use  The roll out a specific scheme, ran in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Department of Housing to bring some homes in the Fair Deal Schemes back into use  Specific year on year targets for returning vacant homes to use must be set in Galway County Council  Government should introduce a vacant homes tax applicable to properties vacant more than 6 months within Local Authority Areas determined by the Local Authorities as having a high level of housing need and a high level of vacancy *

(*Any such proposal would have exemptions for homes in probate or in the Fair Deal Scheme)