Dublin Bay North Labour TD Sean Kenny has welcomed the launch of a €15m fund that will see vacant local authority housing redeveloped and brought back into use as social housing.

Mr Kenny said: "Local authorities have been asked to submit their proposals for the funding by 28th March next. Minister Jan O'Sullivan, who has worked hard to alleviate the shortage of social housing, will then allocate the funding as soon as possible afterwards. The fund should see about 500 housing units that are now vacant, brought into use for families later this year.

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"I want to pay tribute to Minister O'Sullivan for the continued hard work that she is doing in the area of social housing. She is the first Minister in several years to actively look at ways of increasing funding and increasing the supply of local authority housing, in what is a serious housing crisis in Ireland. Increasing the supply of social housing is a priority.

"In terms of this funding of €15m, I am very happy to see it. Given the demand for social housing, my view is that no home can be left empty."

(CD/MH)