The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O'Brien TD, has written to Dublin City Council to confirm an allocation of €5m for the refurbishment and re-letting of 100 vacant or soon to be vacant homes this year in 2021.

This is in addition to the 370 vacant units planned for restoration in Dublin City this year under the Department's void programme which was announced in May.

Minister O'Brien commended Dublin City Council for their strong engagement with the voids programme and their support in tackling vacancy.

Commenting he said: "There are approximately 100 homes vacant or soon to be vacant in flat complexes that are not are at an advanced stage in the Flat Complex Rebuild or Refurbishment programme.

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"My Department and I have worked with Dublin City Council on a proposal to open up and refurbish these units to address the acute housing need in the City, while at the same time continuing as quickly as possible with overall regeneration plans.

"I do want to be very clear that the refurbishing and re-letting of these homes this year will have absolutely no delaying effect on the overall regeneration plans. Government and Dublin City Council are absolutely committed to the regeneration plans. Having witnessed first-hand the successful regeneration in St. Mary's Mansions and St. Teresa's Gardens I know it is something that the residents of other complexes are eagerly awaiting.

"The reality is, we do not want to see any vacant homes when we are in the middle of a housing crisis. The homes which have been earmarked for refurbishment are not part of any proposal already submitted or scheduled to be submitted to the Department and will not require de-tenanting within the next five years."