Paul Murphy urges CPO of vacant Dublin homes for social housing
Paul Murphy urged tackling vacancy and dereliction as the quickest, immediate response to the housing crisis, proposing compulsory purchase of vacant homes to use as social housing. He cited figures that 14,500 of more than 100,000 vacant properties are in Dublin and that over 10,000 families are in emergency accommodation in Dublin.
He highlighted that 14,500 of the more than 100,000 vacant properties are in Dublin and linked that reality to over 10,000 families currently in emergency accommodation in the city.
Paul Murphy said a motion passed at South Dublin County Council called on the council to use its powers to bring vacant properties into public ownership via compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and convert them for social housing. He reported that Fianna Fáil abstained while Fianna Gael voted against the motion.
Murphy asked whether the same approach should be adopted on a nationwide basis to make use of vacant homes for social housing, pressing other members and the Taoiseach for agreement on that course of action.
He observed that an earlier grouping overran, shortening the time available for the session, and suggested the Taoiseach respond in writing to the points raised.
Vacancy and dereliction figures
He highlighted that 14,500 of the more than 100,000 vacant properties are in Dublin and linked that reality to over 10,000 families currently in emergency accommodation in the city.
Local council motion and party responses
Paul Murphy said a motion passed at South Dublin County Council called on the council to use its powers to bring vacant properties into public ownership via compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) and convert them for social housing. He reported that Fianna Fáil abstained while Fianna Gael voted against the motion.
Proposal for nationwide use of CPOs
Murphy asked whether the same approach should be adopted on a nationwide basis to make use of vacant homes for social housing, pressing other members and the Taoiseach for agreement on that course of action.
Procedural and response note
He observed that an earlier grouping overran, shortening the time available for the session, and suggested the Taoiseach respond in writing to the points raised.
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Transcript
The quickest, easiest, immediate response to the housing crisis is to deal with the scourge of vacancy and dereliction. Almost in every estate in Dublin South West you will find a vacant house. A perfectly good home, or it was a perfectly good home at one stage, could have a family in it, instead it's a blight on the community. We got figures recently that said 14,500 of the more than 100,000 vacant properties are in Dublin, with over 10,000 families in emergency accommodation in Dublin. This is the easy answer. We passed a motion recently on South Dublin County Council calling on the council to use their powers to bring these properties into public ownership, CPO them and then use them for social housing. Fianna Fáil abstained, Fianna Gael voted against. Do you agree that this is what needs to be done on a nationwide basis to use these vacant homes? Thank you. It's just that an earlier grouping went over time and therefore the time available to the last group was unfortunately shorter, but there is a maximum of 45 minutes for this session and so, but perhaps Taoiseach will respond in writing. I leave that with you Taoiseach. Thank you.