570. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of approved applications for the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme that have subsequently been withdrawn or cancelled or have not proceeded to claim (details supplied); the average and median time between grant approval and grant payment; the principal reasons approved applications do not progress to payme…
Topics / Vacant Properties
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsVacant Properties
351 questions from 94 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 20 October 2026.
351
questions
331 written, 20 oral
94
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
18
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 7 |
| February 2025 | 22 |
| March 2025 | 19 |
| April 2025 | 18 |
| May 2025 | 20 |
| June 2025 | 5 |
| July 2025 | 30 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 11 |
| October 2025 | 39 |
| November 2025 | 19 |
| December 2025 | 21 |
| January 2026 | 24 |
| February 2026 | 13 |
| March 2026 | 18 |
| April 2026 | 15 |
| May 2026 | 21 |
| June 2026 | 25 |
| July 2026 | 6 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 13 |
| October 2026 | 5 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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25
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16
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16
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15
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15
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13
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12
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10
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
573. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department has assessed the feasibility of using anonymised or aggregated utility consumption data, including electricity, gas and water usage, to improve the identification of vacant residential properties; and if such an assessment has been undertaken. [73590/26]
588. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether eligibility for grant assistance to develop vacant above-the-shop units for residential use will be extended to limited companies, including small and micro companies; the progress made in examining such an extension; and when he expects a decision to be made. [74409/26]
463. Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to consider inserting an exceptional circumstance clause into the vacant property refurbishment grant scheme to ensure that individuals who experience unforeseen circumstances are not precluded from receiving the grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [72242/26]
109. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage for an update on the action being taken to tackle vacancy and dereliction. [69285/26]
125. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance for an update on the collection of the vacant homes tax. [68491/26]
239. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that a building which was not previously used as a dwelling is eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, provided it is intended for conversion to residential use; and if he will clarify that buildings such as studios or ancillary structures with historic planning references on the landholding meet the crit…
240. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to clarify that an independent Local Property Tax (LPT) record is not required for a building applying under the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant; and that ancillary buildings forming part of a landholding already subject to LPT meet the eligibility criteria. [66164/26]
241. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to confirm that an independent eircode is not required for a building to qualify for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant, including in cases where the building forms part of a larger landholding. [66159/26]
242. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether a building that does not have an independent land registry folio is eligible for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant; and if he will confirm that title deeds, including certified copies provided by a practising solicitor, are accepted as valid proof of ownership for the purposes of the scheme. [66157/26]
243. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether a building that is the subject of a Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant application is required to be a standalone property with independent utility connections, specifically electricity and water; and if he will confirm that a standalone building without separate utility connections, or which is serviced from an existing…
684. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider allowing micro-companies to apply for the vacant above-the-shop grant scheme; and the timeline for the potential inclusion of micro-companies in the scheme. [64554/26]
686. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of housing units which could potentially be delivered through the conversion of vacant and derelict buildings in town and city centres; the estimated number of such buildings suitable for residential conversion; and if he will set out the Government’s strategy for maximising this source of housing supply. [64680/26]
687. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the measures his Department is taking to ensure that vacant, derelict and disused buildings in towns and cities are brought back into residential use; whether consideration has been given to introducing stronger obligations on owners of suitable disused buildings to return them to productive use. [64679/26]
688. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict residential and potentially residential properties identified nationally; the number of these properties which have been brought back into use in each of the past five years, 2021 to date in 2026; and the number currently being progressed for residential use. [64678/26]
689. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the number of vacant and derelict buildings in Limerick city that have been identified as potentially suitable for residential use; the number that have been brought back into use for housing in each of the past five years; and the schemes available to assist owners in converting such properties. [64684/26]
690. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if his Department is aware of the European Citizens’ Initiative being organised by an organisation (details supplied) concerning the rejuvenation of disused buildings and their return to the housing supply; and whether the Government supports the objectives of this initiative. [64683/26]
691. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage whether his Department has examined the potential cost of converting vacant and derelict buildings into residential accommodation compared with the construction of new housing; whether barriers to such conversions have been identified, including planning, building regulations and funding; and the measures that are being considered…
489. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the number of publicly owned buildings that were vacant on the latest date available, broken down by purpose and/or last previous use; the length of time each property has been vacant; the reason for vacancy in each case; the amount spent to maintain the property since it was first left vacant in each of the years 2020 to date, in tabular form; and if he will make …
170. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance his plans to reform the Vacant Homes Tax to ensure all vacant homes will pay. [54187/26]
384. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he will consider extending the vacant homes grant to facilitate applications through small companies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52662/26]
390. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage to review correspondence (details supplied); the grants being introduced to support same; the timeframe for their delivery; when they will open to applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52698/26]
422. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the key measures taken to tackle vacancy and dereliction since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53473/26]
73. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the number of vacant OPW or HSE buildings assessed as potentially suitable for youth services; whether any have been offered to youth organisations; and if not, to outline the process by which youth organisations may access such buildings. [51915/26]
510. Deputy Rory Hearne asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current processing times for the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant from application to approval nationally, in the greater Dublin area, and the Dublin north-west area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49474/26]