Galway City and County Councils have been awarded over a million euro between them to refurbish vacant, council owned social housing so it can be let out again.
The City Council will receive €666,000 to refurbish 68 units, consisting of 51 standard units, 9 homeless units, and 8 long term units.
The County Council has been awarded €382,000 to refurbish 23 units, including 15 standard units, two units for homeless families, and six long term units.
“As well as providing homes for families on the housing list, including homeless households, the funding is a much-needed boost for local businesses that will be contracted to carry out the refurbishments,” Galway Senator Seán Kyne said.
This funding is part of almost €40 million which has been allocated nationally to refurbish social housing under the Voids Stimulus programme.
The average cost of refurbishing a standard unit is €11,500, homeless voids cost an average of €17,300 and long-term voids have an average cost of €47,000.
Nationwide this funding will be used to bring up to 2,500 social housing units back into use.
“I am very glad to see such an uptake in the scheme and at such a swift pace,” Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien said.
“The Department is now in a position to approve applications and Local Authorities can get to work in bringing vacant social housing units back into use.”
“I have made it very clear that I want to see works carried out and all units allocated by the end of this year and local authorities will be providing status updates to the Department.”
“We know that COVID-19 has had an impact on housing delivery targets this year so the refurbishment and re-letting of voids is vitally important.”
“I would like to thank local authorities for their engagement with this programme and urge them to refurbish and re-let their units as soon as possible.”
