€655,000 to reactivate social homes in Mayo from vacancy

AN investment of €655,120 will bring more local authority homes back into use in Mayo, Minister of State Alan Dillon has said.

The Voids Programme funding is making more efficient use of our existing housing stock, which will bring more homes back into active use in Mayo, he said.

Mayo will receive €655,120 in 2026, an increase of 34% on last year’s allocation of €490,754, under the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage’s 2026 Voids and Planned Maintenance Programme. This includes €396,000 for voids and €259,120 for planned maintenance, supporting the preparation and re-letting of vacant homes more quickly and efficiently.

“The Voids Programme supports local authorities in making vacant homes ready for re-letting and works to tackle vacancy and dereliction to ensure vacant properties are re-used for housing,” said Minister Dillon.

Some €40 million in allocations will be given to local authorities for 2026 to prepare approximately 2,200 local authority homes for re-letting.

This is an increase of €9m (29%) compared to last year’s allocation.

Minister Dillon continued: “Bringing vacant housing back into use across towns and villages in Mayo is essential to help ease pressure on the existing housing stock. It will boost supply and deliver much-needed social homes, while rejuvenating our towns.

“No one wants to see empty buildings in their towns or villages that could be used as homes, so it’s fantastic to see these buildings being brought back into use here in Mayo.

“I would like to thank Mayo County Council for their hard work in returning these homes to use. The new vacancy and turnaround time targets will mean that properties spend less time empty and more time providing security and stability for people who need them most.”