The average time to turn around vacant social housing units in Dublin city is just under 21 weeks in 2021, the local council has revealed.

This represents a decrease from 2019, when the corresponding figure was just over 24 weeks. Figures quoted in the media yesterday suggested the figure for 2019 was two years. However those figures consisted of all vacant Council properties, including those that are planned for regeneration projects or are due to be demolished. The inclusion of those properties is not an accurate reflection of the true picture when it comes to calculating turn-around times.

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Dublin City Council has a high proportion of voids that are due for regeneration or demolition (349 out of 703).

Lord Mayor of Dublin Alison Gilliland said: "Dublin City Council Housing Section is very conscious of the need to maximise our housing stock for social housing and always strives to refurbish any voids/vacant units as quickly as possible.

"We have active plans for the regeneration of several older housing developments and residents have been, and continue to be, relocated to facilitate such redevelopment. While these may be voids/vacant units on paper they should not be categorised in the same way as a housing unit that has become vacant due to a resident passing on. Including them in the average length of time for Dublin City Council to turn around properties is misleading of our efforts to house those families and individuals on our social housing waiting lists."

So far in 2021 there have been 680 units refurbished under the Voids Refurbishment Programme.